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CHAPTER VI. 



THE SHEEP. 



With the exception of certain breeds of dogs, the 

 sheep has undergone more modifications at the 

 hands of man than any other animal. All the 

 rest of our domestic animals have proved their 

 capacity to reassume the habits of their wild an- 

 cestors, but no once tamed sheep has taken to a 

 life of independence. This is at first sight sur- 

 prising, because many kinds, such as the Scottish 

 mountain sheep, and those upon the highlands of 

 Chili and Patagonia, manage to live and thrive 

 with very little aid from their masters. Yet it is 

 found that even a hardy pampas sheep cannot 

 hold its own when that aid is wanting. If man 

 were to become extinct in South America, or 

 indeed in any part of the world, the domestic 

 sheep would not survive him half-a-dozen years. 



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