104 A COUNTRY READER. 



pause and to look would have caused those 

 behind to push those in front into the ravine or 

 break in the ground, and would certainly have 

 much lessened their speed, and thus have given 

 the beasts of prey their chance. 



If a dog enters a field where there are ewes 

 and lambs, he will often be attacked by the ewes 

 if he ventures too near. This is probably a relic 

 of the old wild instinct, when the horned flock on 

 the mountain side defended themselves against 

 jackals and wolves. 



An angry ewe will often stamp her feet when 

 a dog comes in sight. This is probably the 

 relic of a danger signal that the wild look-out 

 sheep gave to the flock over which it was 

 guarding. 



It also may be a signal that the animal intends 

 to fight; like a man, before he begins to fight, 

 turning his shirt sleeves up, or waving his 

 clenched fists about in the air. 



Animals closely related to the sheep will use 

 their sharp hoofs with deadly effect. 



For instance, deer will destroy snakes by 

 jumping on their bodies, and with a quick outward 

 movement of their feet tear them to ribbons. 



Travellers tell us that antelopes use this 

 method of attack, and hunters have been killed 

 in this way by the big antelopes that live in the 

 Himalaya mountains. 



