MORBID APPETITE IN SHEEP. 345 



mouths, as if enjoying the delicious treat of which 

 they had just partaken, making every en- 

 deavour to return : and men were required to 

 be kept constantly on the watch, to prevent 

 them ; but with every exertion it was almost 

 impossible to keep them off, for one flock ad- 

 vanced as another was driven away, and the 

 people are soon tired out.* 



After eating the earth, they do not feed on 

 the herbage in any regular manner ; they are 

 restless, picking a bit of grass here and there, 

 according to the statement of the shepherds, 

 until, on the approach of evening, they feed in a 

 more regular manner. 



Sometimes six or eight ewes may be seen run- 

 ning to a particular spot on the pasturage, about 

 the roots of clumps of grass, and sometimes those 

 of fallen trees, licking and gnawing about the 

 spot, as if it had a similar earth to that found in 

 the ivater holes. They will burrow underneath 

 the bank, to get the saline earth, at those places 

 where it may be most moist. 



This quality of the ground is supposed 

 by the shepherds to be more prevalent about 

 limestone ranges than any other geological 



* It is said, if sheep have not bitter herbs in their pas- 

 turage, they will not thrive. 



