OVIS ARIES. 



most stupid of all domestic quadrupeds, and as the only one 

 which is probably incapable of returning to a state of nature ; 

 that it neither knows how to avoid danger, nor to seek shel- 

 ter from the changes of the atmosphere, nor even to procure 

 nourishment, except in abundant pasturage. To a certain 

 extent this may be true, but those who have witnessed the 

 boldness and agility with which sheep leap from crag to crag, 

 or the safety with which others descend rocky precipices, 

 to graze on the sweet but scanty herbage below, and then 

 reascend till they reach the summit, bounding upwards with 

 a sureness of foot and strength of spring that seem to rival 

 the goat, would be disposed to consider that neither their 

 instincts were so obtuse, nor their return to a state of nature 

 under favorable circumstances by any means so difficult, as 

 they had imagined. 



The natural habits of the sheep attach it to the highest 

 ground, to the upland slopes where aromatic plants abound. 

 Nature never intended this animal to occupy the deep allu- 

 vial lands of the rich arable farms, or to consume the succu- 

 lent grasses of the water-meadows. Every farmer is aware 

 that their natural instinct, after being for ages domesticated, 

 still leads them invariably to the elevated portions of the field 

 in which they are placed. All these facts tell the farmer, in 

 very intelligible language, that it is change of food, of pastur- 

 age, and, if possible, the giving them occasionally aromatic 

 food, that will best conduce to the prosperity of his flock. 

 Sheep in temperate climates are clothed with wool, which is 

 annually renewed ; but in warmer countries the animal is fur- 

 nished with hair. In its wild state, it has generally horns, 

 but these have nearly disappeared in most of the breeds of 

 domestic sheep. That the primitive breed of sheep were 

 horned we have direct evidence, Gen. xxii. 13, Josh. vi. 6. 

 Immense flocks of this animal have in all ages of the world 

 been kept by man, but more universally for their wool and 

 skins than for their flesh, for that is yet to many nations by 

 no means a favorite meal. The Calmucs and Cossacks still 

 prefer that of the horse and the camel; the Spaniards who 

 can procure other flesh rarely eat that of the Merino. Eng- 

 lishmen perhaps consume more mutton than the people of 

 any other country ; but the taste for this is certainly of mod- 

 ern origin. It has rapidly extended, as better breeds and 

 sweeter kinds of mutton have been produced. 



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