344 MORBID APPETITE IN SHEEP. 



with the activity of deer, licking and gnawing 

 the earth with avidity. 



Among breeding-evk^es, eating the earth was 

 followed by their devouring the progeny of the 

 other ewes, when brought forth ; and, on the shep- 

 herds endeavouring to save the lambs just born 

 from their voracity, they would rush upon them, 

 biting their trowsers, and making strenuous 

 efforts to seize the lambs in the arms of the men. 



The different places about the Murrumbidgee 

 country, where this took place, was shown me 

 during my visit to that part of the colony. 

 One place was a black bog earth, on which 

 marks of the tongues of the animals, at those 

 places where they had been licking, could 

 be distinctly seen ; the second place was similar 

 to the first, and two others consisted of a reddish 

 clay. 



Tlie situations were about limestone ranges ; 

 and it has been remarked, that the water holes, as 

 they are termed, (which when dry, are the places 

 frequented by the sheep, for the purpose of lick- 

 ing and gnawing the earth,) after standing for 

 three or four days, acquire a peculiar sickly, 

 sweetish taste : and it is in these pools, after the 

 evaporation of the water, that the earth is situ- 

 ated, so eagerly devoured by the breeding-ewes. 

 When driven away, they are seen licking their 



