ORDER RUMINANTIA. 315 



upon them. Nor are their affections obliterated in a do- 

 mestic state : he, who in shearing time, when the lambs are 

 put up separately from the ewes, witnesses the correct know- 

 ledge these animals have of each other's voices ; the parti- 

 cular bleating of the mother, just escaped from the shears, 

 and the responsive call of the lamb, skipping at the same 

 moment to meet her ; its startled attitude at the first sight 

 of her altered appearance, and the re-assured gambol at her 

 repeated voice and well-known smell ; he who observes them 

 at these moments, will not refuse them as great a share of 

 intelligence as their ancient subjugation, extreme delicacy, 

 and consequent habitual dependance on man, will allow. 



The courage of sheep is superior to that of goats. The 

 males both wild and tame alike contend with each other 

 for the possession of the females, by butting with the fore- 

 head and horns, running at each other with great force, so 

 as to precipitate the vanquished sometimes over precipices 

 of great height; and the solidity of their skulls is such, that 

 the domestic ram, whose blows strike low, will drive a 

 bull out of the field. Rams, and even weathers, will attack, 

 and sometimes kill, dogs, or foxes. Instances of this kind 

 are not uncommon in the mountainous parts of England, 

 though they might appear incredible on the Continent, 

 where sheep enjoy less liberty. British shepherds are also 

 well acquainted with the cunning and the arts sheep will 

 put in practice to elude their vigilance when a young corn 

 field entices them to theft ; and the Scottish and western 

 mountaineers often witness their sagacity in anticipating a 

 storm, by seeking timely shelter under a cliff, where some- 

 times it is necessary to dig them out of the snow, in which 

 they become buried, without incurring any material injury. 



Sheep drop the two middle incisors of their first teeth 

 after a twelvemonth's age ; at two years the two next ; at 

 three, four are renewed ; and at four years' of age all are 

 replaced : they are then white and regular, but by degrees 



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