SHEEP, the common name of the genus belonging to the Cavicornia, or hollow-horned ruminant family. Nat uralists are by no means agreed as to what was the original breed of this in valuable animal. Of the several varieties of wild sheep which have by naturalists been considered entitled to the distinction of being the parent stock, may be men tioned: (1) the Musmon (0. nwsinon), still found wild in the mountains of the larger islands of the Mediterranean and European Turkey; (2) the Argali (0. ammon), or wild Asiatic sheep, which are the tenants of the highest mountains of Central Asia, and the elevated, inhospit able plains of its N. portions; (3) the Rocky Mountain sheep (0. mantana), which is found on the mountains of North America; (4) the bearded sheep of Af rica (0. tragelopleus), found on the high lands of Egypt and in Barbary. The leading fact in the geographical history of this genus is that it occurs both in the New and the Old World, whereas the goat tribe are naturally unknown in America. It is usually regarded by nat uralists as being not only specifically, but generically, distinguished from the goat tribe; but some authorities, on the other hand, are inclined to believe that the generic separation is founded chiefly on characters which have arisen from the of naturalists is that it is from this spe cies the domestic breeds have been ob tained. The bearded sheep of Africa has the hair on the lower part of the cheeks and upper jaws extremely long, so that it forms a double or divided beard. The hairs on the sides and body are short, those on the top of the neck somewhat longer, and rather erect. The whole influential power of man. In a state of nature, the sheep is scarcely less active or energetic than the goat.
The main characteristics of the four unsubdued races of sheep mentioned above are as follows: The Musmon measures about three feet and a half in length, and its height, at the highest part of the back, is about two feet six inches. The neck is large, the body thick, muscular, and of a rounded form. The horns of the male are nearly two feet long. The body is protected by a short, fine, gray colored wool, of which the filaments are spirally twisted, and by a stiffish silky hair, sufficient to conceal the wool be neath. It is gregarious in a state of nature, and seldom descends from the highly-elevated portions of the mountains on which it dwells. The general opinion under-parts of the neck and shoulders are covered by coarse hair.
The Argali, or wild sheep of Asia, measures about three feet in height at the shoulder, and five feet in length. His
horns are nearly four feet long, and placed on the summit of the head, so as to cover the occiput. They nearly touch each other in front, bending backward and laterally, and then forward and out ward. The female is of smaller size, and her horns are nearly straight. The Ovis montana, or Rocky Mountain sheep of the United States, is larger than the largest varieties of domestic breeds. The horns of the male are of great dimen sions.. The hair in this species resembles that of a deer.
The many varieties of sheep which tenant Great Britain and Ireland may be conveniently divided into two classes; the first consisting of sheep without horns, and the second of sheep with horns. Of the first class are, the New Leicester sheep, the characteristics of which are fineness and fullness of form, an early maturity and propensity to fatten; the wool, not so long as in some breeds, but considerably finer. The Cotswold sheep, which have been long celebrated for the fineness of their wool, and which have been gradually improved by crossing with the Leicester sheep. Their mutton is fine grained and full-sized. The Dartmoor sheep, which have white faces and legs, some with and some without horns, small in the head and neck, and generally small-boned, carcass narrow and flat sided. The Southdown sheep have short wool, close and curled. The flesh is highly esteemed. The Romney-Marsh sheep have long but coarse wool, much internal fat, and much hardihood, and require no artificial food during the hardest winter but a little hay. The Cheviot sheep are a peculiar breed, which are kept on the extensive range of the Cheviot hills. They have the face and legs generally white, and the body long; their wool is short, thick, and fine; they possess very considerable fattening qualities, and can endure much hardship both from starva tion and cold. Of the horned sheep, the chief varieties are: The Dorset sheep. They are a good folding sheep, and their mutton is well flavored, but their prin cipal distinction and value is the forward ness of the ewes, who take the ram at a much earlier period of the year than any other species, and thus supply the market with lamb at the time when it fetches the highest price. The Shetland sheep are small and handsome; hornless, hardy, feeding on even sea-weed, and with soft and cottony wool. The Hebridean sheep is the smallest of its kind, even when fat weighing only 20 pounds.