82 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 



low snow where in a forest glade they remained 

 for nearly a month. 



One winter five sheep were caught in the 

 lowlands by a deep snow. They had started 

 homeward with the coming of the storm but 

 were fired on by hunters and driven back. Be- 

 coming snowbound they took refuge in a springy 

 opening at the bottom of a forested slope. 

 This open spot was not a stone's throw across. 

 It was overspread by outpouring spring water 

 which dissolved most of the snow. Here the 

 sheep remained for several weeks. This place 

 not only afforded a moderate amount of food, 

 but in it they had enough freedom of move- 

 ment successfully to resist an attack of wolves. 

 Apparently wolves do not attack sheep in their 

 wintry heights. Deer and elk as well as sheep 

 have often made a stand in a springy place of 

 this kind. 



Sheep under normal conditions are serene 

 and often playful. There appears to be most 

 play when the flock is united. Commonly they 

 play by twos, and in this play butt, push, feint, 

 jump, and spar lightly with horns, often rising 

 to the vertical on hind legs. If a bout becomes 

 particularly lively the others pause to look on. 

 They give attention while something unusual 

 is doing. One day I saw a flock deliberately 

 cross a snowdrift when they could easily have 



