THE SHEEP. 



54 1 ; 



SHEEP.— Ovis dries. (Southdown.) 



From time immemorial, the Sheep has been subjected to the ways of mankind, and has 

 provided him with meat and clothing, as well as with many articles of domestic use. The 

 whole carcase of the Sheep is as useful as that of the ox, and there is not a single portion of 

 its body that is not converted to some beneficial purpose. The animal as we now possess it, 

 and which has diverged into 

 such innumerable varieties, 

 is never found in a state of 

 absolute wildness, and has 

 evidently derived its origin 

 from some hitherto undomes- 

 ticated species. In the opin- 

 ion of many naturalists, the 

 mouflon may lay claim to the 

 parentage of our domestic 

 Sheep, but other writers have 

 separated the moufions from 

 the Sheep, and placed them 

 in a different genus. 



In many of its habits, 

 especially in its rock-climb- 

 ing propensities, it bears a 

 strong resemblance to the 

 Goats, to which animals it is 

 closely allied. Whenever the 



flock can have access to elevated spots, they may always be seen perched upon the highest 

 and most precipitous spots, and seem to take a curious pleasure in exposing themselves to the 

 risk of being dashed to pieces. 



Although the Sheep is generally considered to be a timid animal, and is really so when 

 forced into adverse circumstances and deprived of its wonted liberty, it is truly as bold an 

 animal as can well be seen, and gives many proofs of its courage. If, for example, a traveller 

 comes unexpectedly upon a flock of the little Sheep that range the mountains, they will not 

 flee from his presence, but draw together into a compact body, and watch him with stern and 

 unyielding gaze. Should he attempt to advance, he would be instantly assailed by the rams, 

 which form the first line in such cases, and would fare but badly in the encounter. A dog, if 

 it should happen to accompany the intruder, would probably be at once charged and driven 

 from the spot. 



Even a single ram is no mean antagonist when he is thoroughly irritated, and his charge 

 is really formidable. Sheep differ from Goats in their manner of fighting : the latter animals 

 rear themselves on their hind legs, and then plunge sideways upon their adversary, while the 

 former animals hurl themselves forward, and strike their opponent with the whole weight as 

 well as impetus of the body. So terrible is the shock of a ram's charge, that it has been known 

 to prostrate a bull at the first blow. Nor is the Sheep only combative when irritated by oppo- 

 sition, or when danger threatens itself. A Sheep that had been led into a slaughter-house, 

 has been known to turn fiercely upon the butcher as he was about to kill one of its companions, 

 and to butt him severely in order to make him relinquish his grasp of its friend. 



The Sheep does not seem to be so intelligent as the Goat, and has a curious habit of always 

 following the individual who happens to be the leader, even though he should rush 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 shepherds 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. 



The Sheep breeds freely, producing generally one or two lambs every year, and sometimes 



