SOUTH AMERICAN SHEBP DOG. 405 



sentinels, on the other side of the flock, and should any sheep 

 chance to stray from its fellows, the dog on duty at that 

 particular post, would walk gently up, take him carefully by 

 the ear and lead him hack to the flock. Not the least fear 

 did the sheep manifest at the approach of these dogs, and 

 there was no occasion for it." 



Capt. Allison Nelson, of Bosque county, Texas, visited 

 me in 1860. He had started to bring me a pair of these 

 Mexican dogs, but unfortunately permitted himself "to be 

 laughed out of it" — his friends being under the impression 

 that it would be carrying coals to New Castle to take sheep 

 dogs to a region where the Scotch coUey was to be found in 

 abundance. Capt. Nelson confirmed Mr. Lyman's statement 

 in regard to their sagacity and courage. His sheep were 

 herded in the Mexican way, around fires and not in folds. 

 He said that after night-fall the dogs separated themselves 

 from the sheep and formed a cordon of sentries and pickets 

 around them,— jand woe to the wolf that approached too near 

 the guarded circle ! The dogs crouched silently until he was 

 within striking distance, and then sprang forward like arrows 

 from so many bows. Some made straight for the wolf and 

 some took a direction to cut ofi" his retreat to forest or 

 chaparral. When overtaken his shrift was a short one. 



Such dogs Would be invaluable on the broad prairies of 

 the North-western States, to save the labor, trouble, and 

 sometimes injury of folding flocks each night in a stationary 

 and distant fold. 



South Ambeican- Sheep Dog. — Similar to the preceding 

 in character and habits, are the sheep dogs to be found in 

 various parts of South America. They, too, are undoubtedly 

 an offihoot from the Spanish stem. The following interesting 

 account of them is from Darwin's Journal : 



" While staying at this estancia (in Banda Oriental,) I was 

 amused with what I saw and heard of the shepherd dogs of 

 the country. When riding it is a common thing to meet a 

 large flock of sheep guarded by one or two dogs, at the 

 distance of some miles from any house or man. I often 

 wondered how so firm a friendship had been established. 

 The method of education consists in separating the puppy, 

 when very young, from the bitch, and in accustoming it to 

 its future companions. A ewe is held three or four times 

 a day for the Uttle thing to suck, and a nest of wool is made 

 for it in the sheep -pen. At no time is it allowed to associate 



