l66 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



of our modern domestic varieties in spite of 

 summer heat. It is known, liowever, that, 

 like the bison, the reindeer, and the musk ox, 

 most wild sheep get rid of some of their wool 

 in the hottest weather. Traces of this habit 

 are still to be found even in the Merino and 

 Southdown breeds. The Southdown flock- 

 masters are very particular in choosing the 

 season for shearing. They say that at a certain 

 time — which conforms with the almanac to a 

 remarkable decree — the fleece "lifts," or "is 

 up." By this they mean that, close to the skin, 

 there is some tendency to a separation between 

 the old wool and the new. This, as far as I 

 can make out, is not absolutely a separation 

 of fibre, for the staple can generally be traced 

 unbroken right down to the pelt. But there 

 certainly appears a division between the wool 

 and the skin, which seems to be caused by the 

 fibres of newest growth erecting themselves and 

 lifting the matted fleece slightly. When this 

 occurs the shears run easily ; and the labour 

 of shearing is considerably greater if it is under- 

 taken before the change takes place. 



It is most instructive to observe the date of 

 the "lifting" of the wool in the Southdown 



