THE COMMON SHEEP. 503 



about Sinigaglia, and all along the hedges near the sea, and that 



the sheep gave it exclusive preference so long as any of it 



remained. Theophrastus says, that in the neighbourhood of 



Athens, the bladder- senna was used to fatten sheep, to which 



purpose it was highly conducive. His observation deserves 



the attention of those who have flocks on the downs, where 



it would grow as well as furze if sown in the same manner. 



Dr. Anderson, who cultivated furze for the express purpose 



of feeding cattle, says that sheep will eat it, nibbling off the 



prickles, one by one, very quickly, so as not to be hurt by 



them. Matthew Aphonin, in a paper published in the Amcenitates 



Academics, says, f( the sheep's fescue-grass is their best fodder, 



and they fatten upon this sooner than upon any other plant j 



this is evident in Gothland, where it abounds ; and hence 



appears the reason why they all repair so eagerly to the almost 



barren places where it grows." In winter, our British sheep 



feed upon the leaves of holly, and also, according to Phillips, 



upon " the leaves and branches of the Scotch fir, which is no 



small consideration in mountainous countries, where the snow 



lies sometimes upon the ground for many weeks together." 



That " ivy affords sheep a wholesome and favourite repast," 



we are assured by the Rev. W. T. Bree, in the Magazine of 



Natural History (1833, vol. vi. p. 328) j but Shakespeare must 



have been well aware of their fondness for this plant, when 



he made one of his characters (an old shepherd) say : 



" They have scared away two of my best sheep; which I fear the wolf 

 will sooner find than the master : if any where I have them, 'tis by the sea- 

 side, browsing on ivy." 



(The Winter's Tale, Act III. Scene 3.) 



The mistletoe, as well as the ivy, is recommended as winter 

 fodder by old Thomas Tusser, who says, 



" If snowe do continue, sheepe hardly that fare 

 Crave mistle and ivie for them for to spare." 



(Five Hundred Points of Husbandry, 1562.) 



Carrots and cabbage-turnips are also good food for sheep in 

 winter. It is doubtful whether our sheep eat wild thyme, 



