66 TIMIDITY. 



they have only gained a momentary glimpse 

 of the object that has disturbed them, they, 

 after the first plunge, stand as if uncertain 

 whether there is any real cause of alarm, or 

 merely their own fearful apprehension, utter- 

 ing at intervals their shrill whistle. The 

 whole flock is often led away by some timid 

 individual, for as soon as one is alarmed and 

 moves ofij they all follow (although they may 

 not have seen anything), it may be a half- 

 grown lamb, or more frequently an old 

 female, as with red-deer, which will continue 

 to lead them for miles, though the greater 

 pai't of the flock feel quite inchned to halt, 

 which indeed, after a time, many of them do ; 

 and thus when hunted after, the large flocks 

 are broken up into smaller parties. The old 

 males are not so timid as the others, and the 

 flocks are generally led by a female or 

 young animal. 



Noise does not disturb them much, being 

 so accustomed to the falling avalanches, 

 the rolling stones, and the loud reports 

 and rumbling sounds which are of hourly 



