Clafsl. SHEEP. - ±y. 



for the farmer to negltd. To conclude, whether 

 we confider the advantages that refult from this ani- 

 mal to individuals in particular, or to thefe king- 

 doms in general, we may with Columella confider this 

 in one fenfe, as the firft of the domeftic animals. 

 Pofi major ss quadnipedes ovilU pecoris [ecunda ratio ejt •, 

 qu<e prima Jit ft ad u till talis magnitiidinem refer as. Nam 

 id pracipue contra frigoris violentiam protegit, corporis 

 hufque nojlris liberaliora pr<£bet velamina •, et etiar/i ek- 

 gantium menfas jucundis et numerofis dapihus exornat *. 



The flieep, as to its nature, is a moft innocent, 

 mild and fimple animal ; and confcious of its own 

 defcncelefs ftate, remarkably timid : if attacked 

 when attended by its lamb, it will make fom.e fhew 

 of defence, by ftamping with its hti and pulhing 

 with its head ^ it is a gregarious animal, is fond of 

 any jingling noife, for which reafon the leader of 

 the flock has in many places a bell hung round its 

 neck, which the others will conftantly follow ; it is 

 fubjecl to many difeafes : fome arife from infedis 

 which depofite their eggs in different parts of the 

 animal ; others are caufed by their being kept in wet 

 paftures ; for as the fheep requires but little drink, 

 it is naturally fond of a dry foil. The dropfy, ver- 

 tigo (the pendro of the Welih) the pthifick, jaun- 

 dice, and worms in the liver -f annually make great 

 havoke among our flocks : for the firft difeafe, the 

 fhepherd finds a remedy by turning the infeded into 

 fields of broom ; which plant has been alfo found to 



* De re rujlka, lib. vii. c. 2. 



I Fafciola hepatica, Lin.JyJi. 6480 



he 



