CHAPTER XXXIV. 



THE GRASSES FAVOURED BY SHEEP. 



The slieep was originally, indeed is now largely, a 

 hill or mountain living animal. At no time probably in 

 its natural state did it resort much to the lowlands. The 

 ever present danger from enemies, such as wolves and 

 wild dogs, made of them by compulsion if not by choice, 

 high land frequenters. Judging from its timorous dis- 

 position it must have been one of the most hunted of 

 animals. Its utter helplessness and simplicity suggest 

 it as being an easy prey to organised bands of carni- 

 verous and cunning wild animals. Possibly the only 

 time it showed up on the low, open country was when 

 driven in search of food, when an incommensurate in- 

 crease in their numbers depleted the grazings of their 

 usually safe grounds. Undue increase in numbers was 

 a common enough fate of the human family before the 

 better economy of modern civilisation became estab- 

 lished ; how much commoner it must have been in the 

 animal world. Sheep show marked characteristics prov- 

 ing that they must have been hard hunted through 

 countless ages, and their facility for segregating to- 

 gether when danger pends indicates deficient wariness 

 that would give packs of wolves or dogs favourable 

 opportunities for successful hunts. When sheep are 

 cornered they follow the lead of any header in breaking 

 away, and going with notable aimlessness, as they have 

 so often done, tumbling one after another over a preci- 

 pice or some such unreasonable place. 



Through lacking originally in quickness of foot and 

 intelligence, everything points to the sheep having been 

 compelled to continue as a mountain-living animal, and 

 the habits acquired by camping there for many ages 



