THE PERSIAN SHEEP. 165 



but it was always on the alert at an early hour in 

 the morning, and anxious to be brought to a little 

 plot of grass before our cottage windows, where it 

 seemed to enjoy the vicinity of human beings, and 

 delighted to be spoken to or fondled by children. 

 It was extremely mild, gentle, and affectionate in its 

 disposition, never attempting to make a butt of, or 

 otherwise annoy, its friends. It would follow us 

 about the garden, and, if taken no notice of, would 

 frequently remind one of its presence by a gentle in- 

 sertion of its muzzle into the hand, or even pocket. 

 This habit probably arose from its being so frequent- 

 ly fed throughout the day with bits of bread, biscuit, 

 apples, &c. Although, of course, not allowed to go 

 at large in the garden, it often escaped there from its 

 own little plot of grass, and wandered about, appa- 

 rently with a view to satisfy rather its curiosity, or 

 love of company, than its appetite; for it seldom 

 touched any of the plants, except those (of the culi- 

 nary kind) to which it had a legal right. It conti- 

 nued thin and rather feeble all winter, but as the 

 weather improved in warmth and brightness, it ob- 

 viously increased in health and spirits, and through- 

 out the summer season its motions were very free 

 and graceful, and its attitudes at times expressive of 

 great boldness. To human creatures, however, es- 

 pecially children, it continued to be uniformly gentle 

 and attached ; but it shewed great spirit in driving 

 all strange dogs from the door, and I once saw it 

 greatly astonish a large bull-terrier, by suddenly 



