BRITISH 



and encourage his dog. A rough idea of the performance may be 

 gathered by a reference to Fig. 43. On the signal being given, 

 the dog was allowed to go for the sheep, and had to drive them 

 between the various flags (E) and the wall (A), then over the 

 gap in the wall (B), turn them, and, bringing them through the 

 other flags, drive them into the pen within the space of fifteen 

 minutes. Of course, in a trial of this description a large amount of 

 luck or chance is bound to occur ; in fact, the winner on the after- 



FIG. 43. DIAGRAM SHOWING A SHEEPDOG TRIAL COURSE. 



noon in question was greatly favoured in having a lot of sheep that 

 of their own accord went between the two most difficult flags, and 

 that were comparatively easy to pen. Still, it was most interesting 

 to watch the almost human intelligence displayed by the various 

 dogs, their absolute obedience to the slightest whistle, and, to the 

 majority of the crowd, the unintelligible jargon in which they were 

 ordered to perform their work. Gestures as well as words were 

 employed, and the dogs at once recognised the signs when several 

 hundred yards from their masters. 



