12 KATUEAL HISTOEY Or THE SHEEP. 



mountains, and that it shows a preference for dry pastures in 

 elevated situations, where it can find tender, dry and fragrant 

 herbs. On the other hand, all wet and marshy meadows, which 

 bring forth watery and acrid plants, are positively injurious to 

 its health. It is true that the sheep will accustom itself to 

 lowlands containing rich pasture, but it is more liable to diseases 

 there, and not as long-lived. It is not at all sensitive to a 

 moderate degree of dry cold, because it is protected against it by 

 its fleece ; but great heat and moisture are manifestly injurious 

 to it. Temperate and cold climates appear to be more favorable 

 to the growth of fine wool than hot climates. The races living 

 in the latter have either no wool at all, but common shoi-t hair, 

 like the fallow-deer, or have coarse wool ; which is also the case 

 with the sheep in the extreme north. 



The sheep is naturally timid, and not very lively, but very 

 peaceable, and can therefore be easily ke^t in large herds or 

 flocks and led.by a shepherd or a dog. 



The age of the sheep is limited to twelve or fifteen years. 

 Some races are longer and some shorter lived. 



Sheep are distinguished by the following names with regard to 

 their sex and age : male animals are called rams, and when 

 castrated or gelded, wethers ; female animals, ewes ; young ani- 

 mals, up to the first year, lambs, and then yearlings (having two 

 teeth), and between the first and second years hoggerels or ' 

 hoggets. After the second year they have four, and aft«r the 

 third, six teeth. In their fifth year they are said to be full- 

 toothed, and are thea called old. Animals which are no longer 

 fitted for reproduction are said to be "east off." 



The sheep is found on the greater part of the earth's- surface, 

 and comprises many races, which are mainly distinguished by 

 their size and by the nature of their wool. As regards the 



