CH. XXXV. MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 251 



most active life. If he perform his duty zealously, 

 he has little time for idleness, for on a mountain 

 sheep-farm every season of the year demands con- 

 stant attention and activity. Sheep have some- 

 times an obstinate preference for those parts of 

 their pasturing ground which the shepherd parti- 

 cularly wishes to reserve for another part of the 

 year. The fresh green grass which ought to be 

 their food for the winter is equally attractive in 

 the earlier part of the year ; and they require to 

 be constantly driven away from the tempting spots. 

 Mountain sheep, when they have once found out 

 a favourite piece of feeding ground, be it grass 

 or even the shepherd's own bit of oats, are most 

 determined marauders. Although they are always 

 ready, conscious of their guilt, to fly at the first 

 distant appearance of the shepherd or his dog, 

 they are equally eager to return the moment 

 that the coast is clear. A skilful shepherd will 

 always endeavour to make such arrangements 

 as shall secure good feeding for his flock at all 

 seasons. On the green banks of many mountain 

 streams these animals can find food when the 

 higher grounds are white with snow. There are 

 long green stretches of this kind on the upper part 

 of the Findhorn, enlivening with their brightness 

 the dreary brown mountains of the Monaghleahd, 



