HIGHLAND SHEEP. 
WHEN its intellectual faculties are developed by external circumstances, the Sheep is 
found to be a decidedly clever animal. 
A lamb that belonged to one of my friends, was one of the oddest creatures that could 
be imagined, full of quaint and even erotesque humour, and cunning to a degree that was 
alinost reprehensible, Excepting a monkey, the lamb was the greatest mimic which the 
house possessed, and would imitate everything and every body in the most ludicrous 
manner, The great deficiency in its character was its utter want of self-reliance—a trait 
which may afford a clue to the extraordinary manner in which these animals will follow 
their leader. The creature seemed so dependent on the approbation of its human playfellows, 
and its disposition was so sensitive to praise or blame, that its mistress could hardly venture 
upon either course of conduct for fear of over-exciting the impetuous feeling of the animal. 
If blamed or scolded, it would shrink away into a corner, push its head out of sight, and 
appear quite overwhelmed with sorrow. But if, on the contrary, it were praised or patted, 
it became almost mad with excitement, rolling over and over like a ball, and even standing 
upon its head, an odd trick which it had contrived to ac quire. 
For music it possessed a discriminating ear, being delighted at brisk and lively airs, 
such as are set for polkas, quadrilles, and other dance-tunes ; but abhorring all slow and 
solemn compositions. It had the deepest detestation for ‘the National Anthem, and 
would set up such a continuous baa-baa as soon as its ears were struck with the unwel- 
come sounds, that the musician was fain to close the performance, being silenced by 
mirth if not by pity. Many of its pranks are fresh in the remembrance of its late 
owner, but I can only find space for a single anecdote : 
It was particularly fond of parsley, and ravaged the beds to such an extent that the 
gardener was forced to protect some of the coveted herb under a glass-shade. The 
creature soon discovered the treasure ; and, nothing daunted by the supposed protection, 
broke the glass and ate the parsley, without damaging itself by the sharp fragments of 
the glass.“ Bull’s-eye” glass was then employed in the frames, and for a time seemed to 
protect the parsley ; but after a while even the new frames were found broken, and the 
parsley gone. No one could conceive how the “innocent” lamb could have achieved 
such a feat, and a watch was consequently set upon it. Another frame was ~procured 
al 
