140 HISTORY OF THE SHEEP. 



smaller kinds with the arms it has received from nature. 

 It is by human art alone that the sheep has become the 

 tardy, defenceless creature we find it. Every race of quad- 

 rupeds might easily be corrupted by the same allurements 

 by which the sheep has been thus debilitated and de- 

 pressed. While undisturbed, and properly supplied, none 

 are found to set any bounds to their appetite. They all 

 pursue their food while able, and continue to graze, till 

 they often die of disorders occasioned by too much fatness. 

 But it is very different with them in a state of nature : 

 they are in the forest surrounded by dangers, and alarmed 

 with unceasing hostilities ; they are pursued every hour 

 from one tract of country to another ; and spend a great 

 part of their time in attempts to avoid their enemies. 

 Thus constantly exercised, and continually practising all 

 the arts of defence and escape, the animal at once pre- 

 serves its life and native independence, together with its 

 swiftness, and the slender agility of its form. 



The sheep, in its servile state, seems to be divested of 

 all inclinations of its own ; and of all animals it appears 

 the most stupid. Every quadruped has a peculiar turn of 

 countenance, a physiognomy, if we may so call it, that 

 generally marks its nature. The sheep seems to have 

 none of those traits that betoken either courage or cunning ; 

 its large eyes, separated from each other, its ears sticking 

 out on each side, and its narrow nostrils, all testify the 

 extreme simplicity of this creature ; and the position of its 

 horns, also, show that nature designed the sheep rather for 

 flight than combat. It appears a large mass of flesh, sup- 

 ported upon four small straight legs, ill fitted for carrying 

 such a burden; its motions are awkward, it is easily 

 fatigued, and often sinks under the weight of its own cor- 

 pulency. In proportion as these marks of human trans- 

 formation are more numerous, the animal becomes more 

 helpless and stupid. Those which live upon a more fer- 

 tile pasture, and grow fat become entirely feeble ; those 



