98 A COUNTRY READER. 



THE SHEEP. 



Wild Sheep. 



THE ancestors of our domesticated sheep de- 

 veloped their covering and muscles of leg and 

 power of neck and head, in order that they 

 might live with the greatest advantage amidst 

 their wild, cold mountainous surroundings. 



The wild sheep of to-day live on high moun- 

 tainous places, constantly covered with snow. 

 On the slopes and terraces of these cold heights 

 they take refuge when danger is near, and live 

 on the scanty herbage that they find there. 



The wild sheep live in parties of two or three 

 or in flocks of considerable size. 



Generally speaking, they inhabit open moun- 

 tainous districts rather than the very craggy 

 region inhabited by the wild goat. 



Travellers tell us that it is a grand sight to see 

 a flock of these wild sheep, some as large as 

 donkeys, with their enormous wrinkled horns, 

 moving with wonderful grace and agility amongst 

 the glaciers on the mountains, or resting amidst 

 the castle-like crags of the mountain summits, 

 sometimes at a height of more than 12,000 feet. 



The experience of the long past has made the 

 wild sheep of to-day very wise. When they rest 

 they select for warmth a position that catches 



