1/6 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



sheep. The determined hostihty shown to them 

 at such times is a relic of the old, wild instinct, 

 when the horned flock on the mountain - side 

 defended their young against jackals, dholes, and 

 wolves. An angry ewe will stamp her foot when 

 a dog comes within sight. This is probably a 

 relic of an ancient method of signalling the 

 approach of a foe. But it is also a menace ; for 

 many animals akin to the sheep use their sharp 

 hoofs with terrible effect. Deer will destroy 

 snakes by jumping on them and ripping them 

 to ribbons with outward strokes of their hoofs. 

 Nearly all antelopes use this method of attack, 

 and incautious hunters have been killed by the 

 hoofs of the nylghau, the great Himalaya 

 antelope. 



A wild sheep in his native country is no 

 trifling antagonist. The horns of the Oz'is poli 

 and argali are enormous, and must be seen to 

 be appreciated. Sir Joseph Hooker, the great 

 botanist, says that in Thibet foxes have been 

 known to make kennels in the hollow horns of 

 the argali! This sounds rather a "tall" state- 

 ment, and I confess I should much like to find 

 one of these hermit-crab-like foxes at home ! 



Some Indian tame sheep allied to the wild 



