SHEEP.—Ovis Aries. (Sonthdown.) 
into danger. A herd of Sheep has jumped successively over the top of a precipice, merely 
because the leader happened to do the same thing. In the East, where the shepherds lead, 
not drive, the Sheep, they take advantage of this propensity, in managing the vast flocks 
over which they are set in charge. They have a few pet Sheep which will follow at their 
heels, and come to the musical call of the shepherd’s flute. These privileged animals 
act as the leaders of the flock, and wherever they go, the rest will follow. 
In the British Isles the Sheep breeds freely, producing generally one or two lambs 
every year, and sometimes presenting its owner with three lambs at a birth. One instance 
is on record of a wonderfully prolific ewe. She had hardly passed her second year when 
she produced four lambs. The next year she had five ; the year after that she bore twins ; 
and the next year five again. On two successive years she bore twins. Two out of the 
four and three out of the five were necessarily fed by hand. 
We will now advert shortly to some of the principal breeds or varieties of the Sheep. 
The SourHpowy, which is figured at the commencement of this article, affords a good 
example of the short-wooled breed of domestic Sheep, and is valuable not only for the 
wool, but for the delicacy of the flesh. This breed derives its name from the extensive 
Southern Downs; a range of grass-clad chalk hills which pass through Sussex, Surrey, 
and Kent. These downs are covered with a short sweet herbage, which is of great service 
in giving to the flesh of the animal its peculiarly delicate flavour. Multitudes of tiny 
snails are found upon almost every foot of the down-turf, and are thought by many 
agriculturists to be very efficacious in fattening and nourishing the animal. By careful 
crossing and good management, the horns of the Southdown Sheep have been abolished, 
and the vital energies which would have been expended in developing these appendages, 
are directed to the nourishment of the body and wool. 
This valuable breed of Sheep is not confined to the southern downs of England, but 
has penetrated to every part of our island where the soil and grass are suitable for its 
welfare. The Wiltshire downs swarm with these Sheep, which have covered their entire 
extent with an elaborate interlacing system of Sheep-paths, understood by themselves, 
but very obscure to human senses. Hampshire, and other parts of England, are also in 
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