uncommon for a quarter of mutton to weigh forty or fifty pounds *.

10th,

* We have feen, that, although different breeds of fheep vary from one another very much with regard to the fineness of their wool, and that this difference between them, fo long as they remain in equal circumftances, is permanent and invariable, yet that a variation of the heat of the climate does produce a fenfible effect upon the quality of the wool of every kind of fheep; and, in like manner, although there can be no doubt but that there are different breeds of sheep and other animals differing effentially from one another with regard to fize, yet it is equally certain, that fome variation may be produced in this respect by the nature—abundance, or deficiency of their food. Thus, supposing that all the different breeds of fheep were fed upon paAture where they had at all times as much good food. as they were able to destroy, and were treated properly in other respects, there feems to be little doubt but that fome of thefe would be of a much larger fize than others; whofe defcendants, in thefe circumftances, would continue to retain the fame difference for ever, if they were never suffered to copulate

10th, They alfo differ from one another by the length of their tails.-In Scotland, VOL. II.

Y

the

pulate with one another: Yet, if any of these are carried to another place, where they find a more fcanty fubfiftence, their progeny will gradually diminifh in fize, so as never to reach the ftature of their original progenitors fo long as they remain in that half-ftarved condition. But if, at fome diftant period, fome individuals of this unnaturally fmall breed of animals fhould chance to be carried to another district, where they should have more abundant food and warmth when young, their progeny would gradually out-grow their parents, till at length they should attain the full size of the original parents of their race; after which they would remain ftationary fo long as they fhould enjoy this abundance of food and other requifites. It is from this caufe that animals in Alpine countries, in which their young are usually stinted in their growth for want of abundant nourishment and genial warmth, are almost always smaller than in low and fertile countries, where they more ufually attain their natural fize. Thofe, therefore, who alledge that it is in vain to hope to alter the fize of the ani

mals

the tail of the common breed of sheep does not reach lower than the knees; the tails of English sheep ufually reach the heels in their natural state.I take no notice here of the broad-tailed African fheep, as it is not a native of this part of the world.

The variations that take place with regard to the above mentioned particulars are fo easily distinguishable, that the most inattentive obferver cannot fail to have re

marked

mals bred in any country, because the paftures, &c. in each place will either raife or diminish these till the animals attain the size that it is naturally fitted to produce, have fome reafon for what they alledge, although it is not ftrictly true. Want of abundant food, or an unnatural degree of cold, will always retard the growth of a young animal, and make it ftop before it hath attained its natural fize; fo that a large breed may thus become, in certain circumftances, no bigger than one that was naturally of a much smaller fize. But no treatment could ever bring a breed naturally small to equal the fize of one that was originally large, if it is reared where it can have food and warmth in abundance.

marked them on many occafions. These that follow are not perhaps lefs certain and permanent, although they do not fo fenfibly attract the attention.

11th, Certain parts of the fleece of every fheep are finer than other parts of the fame fleece; but the difference in this refpect in different races of fheep is very great.Sometimes the wool about the neck and fhoulders will be remarkably fine and filky, and that on the buttocks of the fame sheep be exceeding hard and coarse; and, on the other hand, fome kinds of fheep afford a fleece in which the difference in this respect is far lefs confiderable.

12th, In the fame manner, as we observe that fome individuals of the human fpecies have the hair of their heads much thicker and closer than others, fo it may be observed with regard to different breeds of fheep, that fome of them yield a much thicker and more weighty fleece in propor

tion to the bulk of the animal than others do. It would, therefore, be of great ufe to the farmer to be able to know with accurăcy the exact difference in this refpect between any two varieties of this fpecies of animal that he might have it in his power

to rear.

13th, Some kinds of fheep give a much greater quantity of milk in proportion to their fize than others do; and, therefore, make much better and fatter lambs than thefe, upon pastures equally good. This is a diftinction feldom attended to, although it might be on many occafions of the utmost confequence to the farmer.

14th, It it well known that certain breeds of sheep are more difpofed to produce twins than others.-There is in Holland a large breed of fheep that feldom have less than two, often three, and fometimes four lambs at a time-In Lincolnshire, and fome other parts of England, the ewes almoft univerfal

ly