188 NEIGHBORS WITH CLAWS AND HOOFS. 



appears to be preserved only by the assistance and care of 

 man ; it seems unable to subsist by itself. The reclaimed 

 sheep is absolutely without resource and without defense, 

 The ram is but weakly armed ; its courage is only petu- 

 lance. The females are still more timid than the males. 

 It is fear that causes them to assemble in flocks. The 

 slightest noise makes them throw themselves down head- 

 long or crowd one against the other ; and this fear is ac- 

 companied with the greatest stupidity, for they know not 

 how to avoid danger. They appear not even to see the 

 inconveniences of their situation ; they remain obstinately 

 where they are exposed to rain or snow. In order to 

 oblige them to change their situation and take a certain 

 road, a leader is necessary, whose movements they follow 

 at every step. This leader would himself remain motion- 

 less with the rest of the flock if he were not driven by the 

 shepherd or excited by the sheep-dog, which knows well 

 how to defend, direct, separate, reassemble them, and 

 communicate to them all necessary movements. 



7. "They are of all animals the most devoid of re- 

 sources. Goats, which resemble them in so many other 

 respects, have much more sense. They know how to 

 guide themselves ; they avoid danger and easily familiar- 

 ize themselves with new objects, while the sheep neither 

 retreats nor advances, and allows its lamb to be taken 

 away without anger or resistance or even signifying its 

 grief by a cry differing from its usual bleat. Neverthe- 

 less, this creature, so helpless and apathetic, is to mankind 

 the most valuable of all animals, and of the most immedi- 

 ate and extensive use. Alone it suffices for his most press- 

 ing wants, furnishing both food and clothing, besides the 

 various uses of fat, milk, skin, entrails, bones, and manure. 

 Nature seems to have bestowed nothing upon the sheep 

 that does not serve for the advantage of the human race.'" 



