THE SHEEP. 



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into danger. A herd of sheep has jumped successively over the top of a precipice, 

 merely because the leader happened to do the same thing. In the East, where the shep- 

 herds lead, not drive the sheep, they take advantage of this propensity, in managing 

 the vast flocks over which they are set in charge. They have a few pet sheep which 

 will follow at their heels, and come to the musical call of the shepherd's flute. These 

 privileged animals act as the leaders of the flock, and wherever they go, the rest 

 will follow. 



In the British Isles the Sheep breeds freely, producing generally one or two lambs 

 every year, and sometimes presenting its owner with three lambs at a birth. One 

 instance is on record of a wonderfully prolific ewe. She had hardly passed her second 

 year when she produced four lambs. The next year she had five ; the year after that 

 she bore twins ; and the next year five again. On two successive years she bore twins. 

 Two out of the four and three out of the five were necessarily fed by hand. 



We will now advert shortly to some of the principal breeds or varieties of the Sheep. 



SHEEP. Ovis Aries. (Southdown). 



The SOUTHDOWN, which is figured at the commencement of this article, affords a 

 good example of the short-wooled breed of domestic Sheep, and is valuable not 

 only for the wool, but for the delicacy of the flesh. This breed derives its name from 

 the extensive Southern Downs ; a range of grass-clad chalk hills which pass through 

 Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. These downs are covered with a short sweet herbage, 

 which is of great service in giving to the flesh of the animal its peculiarly delicate 

 flavor. Multitudes of tiny snails are found upon almost every foot of the down-turf, 

 and are thought by many agriculturists to be very efficacious in fattening and nourishing 

 the animal. By careful crossing and good management, the horns of the Southdown 

 Sheep have been abolished, and the vital energies which would have been expended in 

 developing these appendages, are directed to the nourishment of the body and wool. 



This valuable breed of Sheep is not confined to the southern downs of England, but 

 has penetrated to every part of our island where the soil and grass are suitable for its 

 welfare. The Wiltshire downs swarm with these Sheep, which have covered their entire 

 extent with an elaborate interlacing system of Sheep-paths, understood by themselves, 

 but very obscure to human senses. Hampshire, and other parts of England, are alsa 



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