THE PERSIAN SHEEP. 
165 
but it was always on the alert at an early hour in 
the morning, and anxious to be brought to a little 
plot of grass before our cottage windows, where it 
seemed to enjoy the vicinity of human beings, and 
delighted to be spoken to or fondled by children. 
It was extremely mild, gentle, and affectionate in its 
disposition, — never attempting to make a butt of, or 
otherwise annoy, its friends. It would follow us 
about the garden, and, if talten no notice of, would 
frequently remind one of its presence by a gentle in- 
sertion of its muzzle into the hand, or even pocket. 
This habit probably arose from its being so frequent- 
ly fed throughout the day with bits of bread, biscuit, 
apples, &c. Although, of course, not allowed to go 
at large in the garden, it often escaped there from its 
own little plot of grass, and wandered about, appa- 
rently vrith a view to satisfy rather its curiosity, or 
love of company, than its appetite; for it seldom 
touched any of the plants, except those (of the culi- 
nary kind) to which it had a legal right. It conti- 
nued thin and rather feeble all winter, but as the 
weather improved in warmth and brightness, it ob- 
viously increased in health and spirits, and thiough- 
out the summer season its motions were very fiee 
and graceful, and its attitudes at times expressive of 
great boldness. To human creatures, howevei, es- 
pecially children, it continued to be uniformly gentle 
and attached ; but it shewed great spirit in driving 
all strange dogs from the door, and I once saw it 
greatly astonish a large bull-terrier, by suddenly 
