CHARACTER OP THE SHEEP. 71 



be broad, the ribs well arched, the back and loins 

 broad, flat, and straight ; the limbs should be short in 

 proportion to the body, the head small, the ears thin, 

 the skin soft and elastic ; the wool soft to the touch, 

 thick, and coming well forward to the face, but not 

 covering it. The face and forehead should be clothed 

 with short hair, and the eyes should have a lively 

 expression. 



Such is the appearance of the healthy animal when 

 of the finest breed and make ; and it is greatly to be 

 regretted, that while domestication has produced beauty 

 of form and fineness of wool, it has also introduced 

 many diseases unknown to sheep in their wild state. 

 These will be further noticed, with their remedies, when 

 we speak of the shepherd's duties. The flocks least 

 subject to these evils are such as graze in open dis- 

 tricts. 



The domestic sheep is often spoken of as not only 

 a timid and inoffensive, but a stupid creature. This is 

 scarcely just, considering that much of what is called 

 stupidity, is merely a sort of blind confidence in man, 

 to whom the animal has given itself up for protection and 

 for food. It loses, no doubt, a great deal of its natural 

 cunning and boldness ; it becomes timid, easily alarmed, 

 and helpless. When harshly treated, it will tremble 

 and bleat in a most pitiful manner, and will not make 

 the slightest attempt at self-defence. But the sheep is 

 not so stupid an animal as to be without strong feelings 

 and considerable courage, when her young are in dan 

 ger : nor is she so dull as not to try many arts to get 

 away from the shepherd, if she is set upon wandering to 

 some other pasture. Her bold and determined air when 

 a dog approaches to worry her lambs, is quite a contrast 

 to her usual meek and timid bearing ; and the violence 

 of her feelings on losing her lamb, the eager search she 

 makes for it, her continual bleating, and distracted 

 looks, all show how strong her affections are. If her 

 offspring dies, she keeps watch over its remains with 



