THE SHEEP. 17 r 



of many creatures which used to be abundant. 

 They become exactly fitted to one particular 

 way of life, and unfitted for any other. If cir- 

 cumstances change, or if they are compelled to 

 migrate, they die. 



Generally such a race comes to an end through 

 the parents being unable to rear their tender 

 young, which naturally feel the stress of an 

 unfavourable new environment more than the 

 adults. This is what would happen to the 

 domestic sheep if the shepherds were not to 

 take such assiduous care of them in the lambing 

 season. 



Now let us see what other relics of wild life 

 can be found in the sheep. It is always, as I 

 have said in a previous chapter, worth while to 

 examine immature animals, if we wish to find 

 out the habits of their early ancestors. Young 

 lambs have enormously developed legs, and are 

 capable of keeping up with the flock when only 

 a few hours old. This at once sug-aests that 

 they had to run with their parents when wild 

 sheep moved from place to place, and were not 

 hidden in secluded spots by their dams. They 

 have a curious habit of following anything large 

 and light -coloured which moves quickly away 



