144 Quadrupeds. 
THE SHEEP. (Ovis Aries.) 
The Sheep has been so long subjected to the empire cf 
man that it is not known with certainty from what race 
our domestic species has been derived. It is supposed, 
however, to be from the Mouflon, or Musmon, of Sar- 
dinia and Crete. This animal is one of the most useful 
ever bestowed on us by a bountiful Providence ; and in 
patriarchal times the number of Sheep constituted the 
riches of kings and princes. It is universally known, 
its flesh being one of the chief kinds of human food, and 
its wool being of great use for clothing. Although of a 
moderate size, and well covered, it does not live more 
than nine or ten years. The Ewe has one or two young 
at a time, and the young one, which is called a lamb, 
has always been an emblem of innocence. 
In its domestic state it is too well known to require a 
detail of its peculiar habits, or of the methods which 
have been adopted to improve the breed. Ko country 
produces finer Sheep than England, either with larger 
fleeces or better adapted for the business of clothing. 
Those of Spain have confessedly finer wool, some of 
which we generally require to work up with our own , 
but the weight of a Spanish fleece is much inferior to 
one of Lincoln or Tees Water. Merino, or Spanish 
Sheep, have of late years been introduced with some 
