SHEEP (ante) were introduced into the American colony of Jamestown, Va., in 1609, and into New York and Massachusetts about 1625. Within 40 years the number in the colonies had increased to 3,000. The breeds generally esteemed the best in the United States are the Vermont Brewer and Atwood flocks; though the French, Saxon, and Spanish merinos are favorites with some. The Leicester breed is considered the best for the farmer, tieing heavy in carcass and full in yield of wool. Southdowus are.preferred for their mutton, and the Cotswold is highly considered. The total number of sheep in the United States in 1880 was 40,765,900, valued at 8,90.280,537, the average price being $2.2l. The largest number in any one state was 7,646,800, in California; the smallest number, in Rhode Island, 28,200. There were 5,148,000 in Texas; 2,205,860 in New York; 4,080,000 in Ohio. The highest average price was $4.01, in New Jersey; the lowest, 0.44, in Georgia.
Sli=r-7.07.1SE. or SHEEP-TICK, or (in Scotland)NAtn, Nelophagns orinvs. an insect of
the family hippoboseidw, to which also the forest-fly belongs, ranked in the order diptera, although in this genus the wings are et mpletely wanting. It lives among the wool of sheep, and particularly of lambs, sucking the blood of the animal, and is most abundant in the early part of summer. Where it fixes its head in the skid a large round tumor is formed. Its body is very compressed and smooth, of a rusty color, the head and thorax small, the abdomen The female does not lay eggs, but, like the other hippobas eider hatches the egg and nourishes the larva within her own body. till it passes intNthe pupa state, when it is deposited, oval-shaped and shining, fastened to the wool of the sheep. Sheep-farmers use various washes or dips for the destruction of these era attires, many of which are arsenical. A patent was obtained a few years since for a sheep-dip, of which carbolic acid is a principal ingredient.