362 THE COMMON SHEEP, 



proceed to graze as before; but if he comes nearer, 

 the same signals are repeated, and a similar flight 

 takes place, but to a greater distance than at first. 

 After about the third repetition, they generally run 

 entirely away. 



These animals are supposed to be fond of any 

 jingling kind of noise; and on this account it is 

 that the Shepherds often fasten a bell round the 

 neck of the leader, the sound of which prevents the 

 flock from ranging far from the spot where he 

 feeds. They implicitly follow their leader wherever 

 he goes; but, in case of sudden alarm, if any one 

 of the flock pushes forward to escape,, and thus 

 takes the lead, the rest generally follow him, and 

 precisely in the same way. 



Of this singular disposition, Dr. Anderson in- 

 forms us, that he once witnessed a very laughable 

 instance in the town of Liverpool. A butcher's 

 boy was driving about twenty fat wedders through 

 the town; but they ran down a street along which 

 he did not want them to go. He observed a 

 scavenger at work with his broom, a little way be- 

 fore them, and called out loudly to him to stop the 

 Sheep. The man accordingly did what he could 

 tq turn them back, running from side to side, 

 always opposing himself to their passage, and 

 brandishing his broom with great dexterity. But 

 the Sheep, much agitated, pressed forward; and at 

 last one of them came right up to the man, who, 

 fearing it was about to jump over his head, whilst 



he 



