DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 65 



will not be true. Most of the things we are used 

 to today will be gone a thousand or two thousand 

 years from now. The present is merely a passing 

 phase of things. 



8. Copying the Leader. 



Years ago, when we lived on a farm in the 

 country, my father kept sheep. And there was 

 one peculiarity in the sheep psychology that I re- 

 member very well. 



The sheep were kept in a lot at night and turned 

 out on the prairie during the day. Instead of a 

 gate, the lot had what were called '' ' bars. ' ' These 

 were wooden pieces extending across the opening 

 one above another, and were pulled to one side 

 when the sheep went in or out. Sometimes, in their 

 eagerness to get out, the sheep would begin their 

 activities before all the "bars" could be "let 

 down." The sheep nearest the opening would 

 jump over, and the rest would follow. Before 

 many had passed, the remaining "bars," of 

 course, would be taken out of the way. But every 

 sheep in the flock would jump at that particular 

 place in imitation of those in front, even tho the 

 obstacle were no longer there. 



This copying instinct is a survival of the past. 

 It originated in different conditions from those 

 in which civilized sheep live. 



Sheep are mountaineers. They came from the 

 highlands. In their pre-domestic existence they 

 lived in flocks, each flock being led by a wise old 



