462 Transactions of the 



number of grown sheep — say two thousand or three thousand in a band. 

 And it is remarkable, the ease with which he will do it. At times, one 

 might imagine that he was not earning his wages, but watch him closely, 

 and as much method and foresight will be detected as in the manage- 

 ment of an old schoolmaster. If it be necessary to use any control over 

 the movements of the sheep, you will see him walk to this side or that, 

 and by a few words, wheel the band to right or left like an officer with 

 a platoon of soldiers. Such a man is up betimes in the morning, has his 

 breakfast cooked and eaten, his lunch tied up, has opened the corral 

 gate, and is now waiting the pleasure of the sheep to move out. There 

 is no hurrying nor driving. Each walks out at leisure. Should any 

 light-headed one wish to crowd, there is ample time for all to get quiet 

 again outside. Then old chums or friends look each other up, and 

 finally all start off together for the day's feed — our old herder accompa- 

 nying at some distance off, apparently as a mere matter of form. If 

 everything goes to suit him, and he be an old sailor or Mexican, he may 

 now pull out an unfinished riding whip, or pair of bridle reins, and fall 

 to plaiting them; or probably he sits down to the congenial pastime of 

 sewing on buttons or mending his well-worn coat, but always with his 

 "weather eye" on his flock. Thus he goes through the forenoon. At 

 midday he takes his lunch. If he be fortunate enough to be at some 

 creek or water, well and good; if not, he has known beforehand, and 

 brought his canteen along. Later in the day he may be seen standing 

 listlessly, or dreamily leaning on his staff — apparently wishing for sun- 

 down. But this suggestion does the old man injustice; he is now busily 

 engaged on his flock. Another day has passed; they are soon to go 

 into the corral, and he is taking count of them. Probably he is count- 

 ing the black ones, or the bell sheep, or some other noted ones he re- 

 members. This is his way of " calling the roll." If it be late in the 

 season and the bucks are through serving the ewes, he includes them in 

 his count, for at this time they are very prone to going in bunches and 

 lagging behind. Any little coterie of ewes and their lambs who are in 

 the habit of parting off or straying away, will be looked for; and although 

 all the band may apparently resemble each other, like so many Chinese, 

 still the herder will have marked the leader of all such little coteries by 

 v some individual peculiarity, and will not be satisfied that his flock is in- 

 tact until he has seen her. Should he not see her at that time, and he 

 has used the same corral say a week, he knows precisely where to look 

 for her in the morning; for she, and each sheep in the flock, has a 

 favorite place in the corral where to sleep, and, unless disturbed, will 

 always be found within a few feet of the same spot every morning. 



No matter how smooth or level a plain the sheep may be herded on, they 

 will soon have it divided off into regular sections or ranges, and you may 

 almost see it in their eye at which place the} 7 are going to stop. They 

 appear to take much enjoyment in this way. In the morning when 

 they come out of the corral gate thej 7 will all start off for one of these 

 sections; by noon they will have worked their way to a second one, 

 where they may rest; after which they will turn toward camp, taking 

 in some other favorite spots; and so on, from day to day. 



SHIRKS. 



This account of the method in which an experienced and faithful 

 herder works his sheep may be taken for a set of " sailing directions," 

 as to the way in which a herder ought to work his sheep. Occasionally 



