Animal Friends and Helpers [161 



When sheep lived in the wild state, they gathered habitually 

 in flocks to feed, with a sentinel always on guard. When this 

 leader spied an approaching enemy or picked up his scent, he 

 signaled with a bleat of alarm, then started off with the whole 

 flock immediately at his heels. Over difficult terrain, leaping from 

 precipices when necessary, leader and flock made their way until 

 they reached a safe retreat. 



The bleating sound for which sheep are noted is their means 

 of keeping in touch with each other. In time of danger they are 

 silent; but they have a special bleat when they catch sight of an 

 enemy and another one when they come upon water. 



Sheep have keen senses. Their large ears move alertly toward 

 the direction of any sound. They can pick up the faintest scent. 

 Their excellent eyes alter according to the light conditions. In 

 sunshine the eye is just a narrow slit, showing a yellowish or 

 brownish iris; in a dim light the pupil grows larger until it 

 absorbs practically the whole eye. 



How SHEEP FEED 



The teeth of sheep and goats are alike. There are six rear 

 grinding teeth on each side of the upper and lower jaws, and 

 eight incisors on the lower but none on the upper. Thus equipped, 

 sheep can crop short grass close to its roots. Because the close 

 cropping by sheep may ruin pasture and because sheep droppings 

 render grass obnoxious to cattle, sheep herders and cattlemen 

 have had bitter conflicts. In any event, sheep and goats manage 

 to be well fed where cattle might starve. Man probably could not 

 invent a more efficient self-powered lawn mower! 



Pigs Smarter Than You Think 



"Dirty pig!" exclaims the tot just learning the names of animals. 



It is a pity that pigs' habits are so generally misunderstood, for 

 actually they are rated with the most intelligent, valuable, and 

 interesting of domesticated mammals. The notion that they enjoy 

 filthy surroundings is largely the consequence of man's careless- 

 ness in keeping them. 



The truth is that a pig will keep its own bed clean and neat 



