HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 51 



singularly inoffensive, and harmless even to a pro- 

 verb, it does not appear to be that stupid, inanimate 

 creature, described by Buffon, "devoid of every 

 art of self-preservation, without courage, and even 

 deprived of every instinctive faculty, we are led 

 to conclude that the Sheep, of all other animals, 

 is the most contemptible and stupid :" but amidst 

 those numerous flocks which range without control 

 on extensive mountains, where they seldom depend 

 upon the aid of the shepherd, it will be found to 

 assume a very different character : in those situa- 

 tions, a Ram or a Wedder will boldly attack a 

 single Dog, and often come off victorious ; but 

 when the danger is more alarming, they have re- 

 course to the collected strength of the whole flock. 

 On such occasions they draw up into a compact 

 body, placing the young and the females in the 

 centre ; while the males take the foremost ranks, 

 keeping close by each other. Thus an armed front 

 is presented to all quarters, and cannot easily be 

 attacked without danger or destruction to the as- 

 sailant. In this manner they wait with firmness 

 the approach of the enemy ; nor does their courage 

 fail them in the moment of attack : for when the 

 aggressor advances within a few yards of the line, 

 the Rams dart upon him with such impetuosity, as 

 to lay him dead at their feet, unless he save him- 

 self by flight. Against the attacks of single Dogs 

 or Foxes, when in this situation, they are perfectly 

 secure. A Ram, regardless of danger, will some- 

 times engage a Bull ; and, as his forehead is much 

 harder than that of any other animal, he seldom 

 fails to conquer : for the Bull, by lowering his 

 head, receives the stroke of the Ram between his 

 eyes, which usually brings him to the ground. 



