MOUNTAIN PASTURES. 461 



It is a remarkable fact that wild sheep of different 

 kinds, unlike their domesticated relations, are all deni- 

 zens of rocky precipitous mountains of great altitude, 

 where they can enjoy a very cool atmosphere and 

 feed upon the sweet tufted grasses that grow at inter- 

 vals among the crevices of the rocks. The soft fleece 

 of the domestic breeds is also unknown among the 

 wild varieties, whose coats consist of a species of 

 coarse hairy wool, which is nevertheless admirably 

 adapted to protect them from the rigours of the glacial 

 region which they inhabit. 



There are of course numerous animals which ascend 

 to the great region of high pasture lands, during the 

 heats of summer, mainly probably with a view to get 

 away from the heat and the attacks of flies, which at 

 this season in many parts of the world render the 

 woods and lowland pastures almost uninhabitable. The 

 herbage of these high slopes is mostly short and close 

 growing, forming an excellent pasturage, one of \vhose 

 peculiarities is the enormous quantities of wild flowers, 

 with which Nature has adorned them, full of brilliant 

 colours, and many of them possessing a powerful 

 aromatic fragrance. Charming bouquets of these wild 

 flowers of many kinds may here be culled by those 

 who are admirers of floral beauty. 



But above all, from these lofty eminences, the tra- 

 veller or the sportsman, if favoured with clear weather, 

 can make sure of enjoying bracing air and some of 

 the grandest scenery which it is possible to behold. 



If he is a prudent man and not pressed for time, or 

 if as an experienced hunter he has come in search of 

 sport, he will probably stop often, and sit down and 

 scan the surrounding expanse with careful minuteness 



