THE STORY OF THE WILD SHEEP. 



181 



a view of the whole of the surrounding country. The flocks of mouflon 

 are led by an old and powerful ram; but at the pairing-season the large flocks 

 used to split up into small parties, consisting of one ram and several ewe's. 

 The rams engage in fierce conflicts among themselves for the supremacy; 

 and during the months of December and January the mountains re-echo 

 with the sound of the blows as one ram rushes against the head of another. 

 The Sardinian mouflon is one of the most difficult animals to approach with 



A MOUFLON FAMILY. 



which I am acquainted. When they are alarmed, or at "gaze," they have 

 a habit, or at least the rams have, of placing themselves in the middle of a 

 bush, or in the shadow which it casts. The ewes, which are naturally less 

 conspicuous, do this in a less degree. The mouflon are assisted by the 

 wonderful alertness of their eyes. One of their favorite devices is tO' seek 

 for spots on the lee-side of a ridge where the currents of air meet. Here, 



