On Sheep-killing Dogs. 249 



on such occasions, as well as in their sportive frolicks, 

 they decidedly prove, that " the shepherd who first ob- 

 served this Lusus Naturae^'* had none of this race '* in 

 his ilock.'^ So far are they from being " unwieldy'''' 

 that, when terrified or playful (operated upon by differ- 

 ent stimuli) they are (as were of old the Gadites, who, 

 being of the same country, pi'ohably were masters of 

 flocks, if they were as wise as they were valiant, com- 

 posed of this race, being of the same country J "swift as 

 the roes on the mountains." But it often happens that 

 sheep in their flight, however rapid at times, face fre- 

 quently round ; and, torpid with fear, await destruction. 

 A spirit for extending profitably our attention to the 

 raising this highly useful animal the sheep, appearing 

 now to be alive in all quarters of our country, it is our 

 interest, as well as a duty we owe to the community, 

 to be assistant in every way ; and particularly to the 

 execution of the laws on the subject. It is in the power 

 of every body to assist ; positively or negatively. No 

 unnecessary dogs should be kept. If numbers were les- 

 sened, those retained would be well fed ; and few or 

 none compelled to wander in search of prey. Not only 

 sheep killings but diseases and madness in dogs are fre- 

 quently eft'ects, either immediate or consequent, of 

 keen and long continued hunger ; which stimulates to 

 gorging voraciously on whatever esculent they find ; 

 and not seldom on putrid and unwholesome food. The 

 rabid and feverish thirst for blood, is a species of mania ; 

 and it is sometimes the forerunner of complete canine 

 madness. Sheep -killers can often be distinguished by 

 a sharp and wild yell ; very different from the tones 

 of other dosrs. 



VOL. II. I i 



