tLtid oiher dknltjlic AtAmals. -' 3<7J 



; pofeJ, without flitltcr, to the open air, and which were produced by a ram and the ewe, who 

 have alfo been from generation to generation, during a fpace of twentj; years, expofed to the 

 air. There are alfo to be feen lambs produced in the open air, who profper better than 

 when houfed, whatever may be the rigour of the feafon. This example may, perhaps, in- 

 duce the proprietors of flieep to fupprcfs the ufe of ftables. The expence of mainta^ino- 

 thefe buildings, inftead of being ufeful to the fheep, is in a great degree hurtful to t^em. 

 When there happens to be no ftables in a farm, and the proprietors are not difpofed to con- 

 ilrucl one, they avoid (in France) putting any flieep on that farm, not being aware that they 

 are better in the open air than in ftables, which the fmall flock in the Garden of Plants 

 evidently proves. This would be of benefit, not only to individuals, but to the republic 

 in general, fince flieep form one of the principal fources of wealth. 



In the experiments which I have made in my fheep-farm, near Montbard, ©n flieep, to 

 afcertain what herbs they might eat without injury, and thofe which would prove noxious, 

 I put two flieep into a fmall fold. Thefe animals are fo accuftomed to be together, that a 

 flieep who finds himfelf alone, becomes reftlefs, and employs himfelf in fearching for others, 

 rather than in eating. I gave to thefe two flieep enclofed in the fold only one fpecies of 

 plants in the rack for their Cubfiftence for eight days. In the Garden of Plants, I am able 

 to try a confiderably greater number of plants than in tlie province of the Cote d'Or, 

 where my flieep-farm is fituated; but the greater part of thefe plants' are not fufficiently 

 abundant to try them on two flieep for many days. I have, therefore, been obliged to di- 

 vide the little folds into two, and to put only one. The flieep in each being feparated 

 only by a hurdle, they imagine themf^lves together, and they eat without any uneafinefs with 

 regard to company. 



It appears that Linnxus .was the firft who thought of making trials to afcertain what 

 plants animals eat, and thofe which they abftain from. He has made thefe experiments 

 himfelf, and recommended them to his difciples. They have been publiflied in the work 

 entitled Pan fueckus ; where is alfo to be found the method which he has followed in 

 making thefe trials. I have thought it my duty to avoid his plan, as I found it to be attended 

 ■ with many inconveniences. 



Herbs were placed before thefe animals, and it was too quickly concluded that they will, 

 - Tor the future, be agreeable to them, even though they had been compelled, after a long ab- 

 fliinence, to eat them. I think that thefe trials ought to be extended to a great number of 

 days, provided there be a fufficient quantity of herbs of the fame fpecies to fupply them with. 

 For I have feen fheep obftinately refufe oats the firft time they were prefented to them, and 

 eat them the fecond, with the utmoft avidity, when they had an appetite. 



Linnaeus does not prefcribe that trials fhould be made with herbs for feeding fheep when 

 they are going out fafting ; but when they return from pafturage, and are nearly fatisfied 

 with food. I believe this proceeding would anfwer, if we knew what were the herbs which 

 fheep love beft ; but that is not the objedl of my refearches : I wifh to know with wh^t 



Vol. III. — November 1799. : 3^ plants 



