130 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



farm ; the half-breeds, which are heavier and 

 larger lambs, are intended for sale. At this 

 time the barren ewes are also drafted from the 

 flock, they too being fatted for the market. 



As the warm days of May pass to those of 

 June, the shepherds commence to "gather" 

 their flocks for the washing. In this they are 

 aided by collies— small wiry creatures, almost 

 inconceivably intelligent. They in nowise re- 

 semble the sheep-dogs of the show-bench, but 

 are mostly built on the lines of the hill-fox. 

 They can be hounded for miles— as far as they 

 can see the action of the shepherd directing 

 them. In fact, they are quite knowing enough 

 to work without this direction ; and I have seen 

 them scale a crag and carefully bring a flock 

 of sheep from the rocks and ghylls where not 

 a single living thing was apparent to the eye. 



"Devil's "Dust," Wily," and " Fleet," were 

 three of the most intelligent brutes that ever 

 ran. I have spent weeks among the mists with 

 this lovable trio. When a headstrong Herdwick 

 gets upon the shelving rocks of. the crags, the 

 dogs never force. They crouch, using the 

 utmost patience, and rather guide the sheep 

 than drive it. That these dogs become fasci- 



