1380 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

ployment as the subject of the first sacrifices, its typical
character as an offering of atonement, its importance as
forming the principal wealth of the early patriarchs, its
various connection, in short, with the political, the religious,
and the domestic customs of those primitive magnates of
the Jewish nation, are all of them subjects forming ample
food for deep and delightful reflection. The relation which
existed between the patriarchal shepherds and their flocks
was, indeed, of so intimate and even affectionate a nature
as to have afforded the subject of many of the most beau-
tifal and touching parables and moral illustrations in the
Sacred Writings. It is scarcely necessary to refer to the
unequalled appeal of Nathan to David, to the still higher
and prophetic allusion to the character of the Messiah, or
to the sublime illustration of the beneficence of the ‘great
Shepherd of Israel,’ in the beautiful and well-known pastoral
psalm.” . /

The varieties of the sheep are very numerous, even in
England, many counties having peculiar breeds noted for
their valuable qualities ; and the South Down, which take
their name from a tract of downs extending through Sussex,
Surrey, and Kent, are noted for the peculiar goodness of
their flesh : they have black heads and legs.