l82 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



narrow or crowded road. If one gives a leap, all 

 the others following it on reaching the same spot 

 follow its example, although there may be no 

 obstacle whatever for them to jump over. The 

 whole proceeding looks extremely silly in the 

 street ; but supposing the flock to be on its native 

 mountains, one can easily see the value of such a 

 habit. Wild sheep always appoint sentinels and 

 leaders, and follow them in the most implicit 

 manner. Whether the animals are grazing or 

 are on the move, these sentinels or leaders act 

 as the eyes of the flock. When all dash off 

 together among broken ground, or are crowding 

 along some perilous ledge on the mountain-side, 

 it would be quite useless for those in the middle 

 of the band to endeavour to see obstacles at 

 their feet. Hence each keeps an eye upon the 

 leader, or upon those immediately in front, and 

 follows their example. If the leader thinks a 

 three -foot jump is necessary to clear some 

 dangerous spot, every sheep in the procession 

 will take a three-foot jump ; if he jumps higher, 

 they will jump higher, and so on. They carry 

 out this imitated action with a most extraordinary 

 precision, even when it has to be transmitted 

 through a long chain of different individuals. 



