A treatise on the diseases and management of sheep; with introductory remarks on their anatomical structure; and an appendix containing documents exhibiting the value of the Merino breed. Of sheep, and their progress in Scotland / by Sir George Steuart Mackenzie, bart.

  • Mackenzie, George Steuart, 1780-1848.
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the diseases and management of sheep; with introductory remarks on their anatomical structure; and an appendix containing documents exhibiting the value of the Merino breed. Of sheep, and their progress in Scotland / by Sir George Steuart Mackenzie, bart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    178/198 (page 172)
    I 172 he purchafed the flock from the Monks, with the land be- longing to it, both in Eflremadura and in Leon, at a priee equal to twenty French francs a head, 16s. 8d. Englifh. All the fheep lately arrived are marked with a large M. the mark of Don Manuel. The number fent from Spain to the King was 2000, equal to two fub-divifions of the original Cavana; to make the pre- fent the more valuable, thefe were felected by the fhepherds from eight fub-divifions, in order to choofe young, well fhaped, and fine woolled animals. This fact is evident, from the marks wLich are placed on eight different parts of the bodies of the flreep now at Kew. The whole number embarked was 2,214; of thefe, 214 were prefented by the Spaniards, to fome of his Majefty’s Minifterg, and 427 died on the journey, either at fea, br on their way from Portfmouth to Kew. His Majelly was gracioufly pleafed to take upon himfelf the whole of the lofs, which reduced the royal flock to 1573; feveral more have fince died. As the time of giving the ram in Spain is July, the ewes were full of lamb when they embarked, feveral of them caft their lambs wdien the weather was bad at fea, and are rendered fo weak and infirm by abortion, that it is much to be feared more wall die, not- withftanding the great care taken of them by his Majefty’s fliepherds. A few haye died of the rot. This difeafe muft have been contracted by halting on fome fwampy diftrict, in their journey from the mountains to the fea at Gijon, wLere they were embarked, as one flieep died rotten at Portfmouth; there is every reafon however to hope, that the difeafe will not fpread, as the land on which they are now kept has never been , fubject to its ravages, being of a very light and fandy texture. It is well worthy of obfervation, that although the Swedes, the Saxons, the Danes, the Prufllans, the Auftiians, and of late, the French, have, either by the forefight of their govern- ments, or the patriotic exertions of individuals, imported Me- rino fheep, no nation has hitherto ventured to aflert, that they poffefs the complete, and unmixed race of any one Cavana;