1/8 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



enough, have short tails, Hke nearly all dwellers 

 on high hills. The chief purpose of the tail 

 among herbivorous animals is to drive away flies, 

 and on the windy heights these are not trouble- 

 some. Yet domestic sheep are born with long 

 tails ; and in spite of the long-established practice 

 of farmers and shepherds of cutting the tails short, 

 they still persevere in growing them. Here are 

 two problems for the rising generation of natural- 

 ists, who, of course, are incalculably smarter and 

 more intelligent than the old fogies who have 

 written on such subjects hitherto ! Why does 

 the modern sheep grow a tail ? and why does a 

 lamb wriggle his tail at meal-times ? 



A curious story has been told of wild sheep in 

 the Rocky Mountains, and in other parts of the 

 world, which has never, I believe, been verified 

 by any competent naturalist, yet which, in spite 

 of its incredible character, one is obligfed to con- 

 sider with some respect. It rests on the testi- 

 mony of a good many independent although 

 uncultured observers, and is to the effect that, 

 when wild sheep are driven to the edge of a 

 precipice, and find escape impossible, they will 

 spring over and alight on their horns, falling- 

 considerable distances without the least injury. 



