94 COMMON SHEEP. 



pices ; and in many instances have been killed by the 

 enraged animals furiously turning upon them, and goring 

 them with their horns. The mode in which the Ibex is 

 said sometimes to avoid the hunter, is by throwing itself 

 down the precipices, alighting on its horns, and thus es- 

 caping unhurt. 



The male Ibex is somewhat larger than the goat. Its 

 horns are large, and from two to four feet in length. 

 They are rounded on the under, and rugged on the upper 

 surface, or divided by several transverse ridges. They 

 are considerably more arched backward, those those of 

 the goat. The horns of the female are not more than 

 eight inches long. The head is small, the beard long, and 

 the eyes are large and brilliant. The limbs are slender, 

 and the body stout. The hair of the upper parts of the 

 body is long, and of a brownish colour, with a streak of 

 black running along the back. The colour of the female 

 is somewhat lighter than that of the male. 



38. SHEEP TRIBE. 



These are timid and harmless creatures. They afford 

 essential services to mankind ; their flesh serving us as 

 food, and their wool being manufactured into clothing. 



Common Sheep. In wild and mountainous tracts of 

 country, where sheep are suffered to range almost with- 

 out control, they exhibit many interesting traits of cha- 

 racter. They are at all times watchful to provide against 

 dangers, and they unite in defending themselves from 

 attack. They do not always graze together in large 

 flocks, but generally associate in parties of from eight 

 to a dozen, of which one is stationed at a little distance 

 from the rest, as a sentinel. If approached by a dog or 

 fox, the rams face about, and exhibit so formidable a 



