132 A COUNTRY READER. 



defend their flocks against beasts of prey and 

 robbers. 



In South America the sheep follow the dog, 

 and this is how it has been accomplished : 



When the dog is quite a puppy it is taken 

 from its mother and placed with a live sheep, 

 who rears it amidst the other sheep as she 

 would her own lamb. The dog, when grown up, 

 shows no desire to leave the flock. The sheep 

 get used to the dog, and the dog gets used to 

 the sheep ; but, curiously enough, the dog 

 gradually assumes the position of leader of the 

 flock. 



Travellers tell us that when you approach a 

 flock of these sheep the dog immediately 

 advances barking, and the flock closes in his rear 

 for protection, just as they close in the rear of a 

 leading and protecting ram. 



The dog has been trained to come daily to the 

 shepherd's house for food, though it may be 

 several miles off 1 ; on receiving the food, the dog 

 returns to guard over the flock. 



Also, these intelligent dogs have been taught 

 to bring the flock home, without aid from their 

 masters. 



The varieties of sheep dog now in most general 

 use are the well-known Scotch collie and the less- 

 known old English sheep dog, with a short 

 stump of a tail, known as the bob-tail sheep dog. 



