256 ANIMALS OF THE 



independence, together with its swiftness, and the 

 slender agility of its form. 



The sheep in its servile state seems to be di- 

 vested of all inclinations of its own, and of all ani- 

 mals it appears the most stupid. Every quadru- 

 ped has a peculiar turn of countenance, a physi- 

 ognomy, 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 cun- 

 ning ; 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 shows 

 that nature designed the sheep rather for flight 

 than combat. It appears a large mass of flesh, 

 supported upon four small straight legs, ill fitted 

 for carrying such a burden ; its motions are awk- 

 ward, it is easily fatigued, and often sinks under 

 the weight of its own corpulency. In proportion 

 as these marks of human transformation are more 

 numerous, the animal becomes more helpless and 

 stupid. Those which live upon a more fertile 

 pasture, and grow fat, become entirely feeble ; 

 those that want horns are found more dull and 

 heavy than the rest ;* those whose fleeces are 

 longest and finest are more subject to a variety of 

 disorders ; and, in short, whatever changes have 

 been wrought in this animal by the industry of 

 man, are entirely calculated for human advantage, 

 and not for that of the creature itself. It might 

 require a succession of ages before the sheep 



* Daubenton upon the Sheep, 



