I 
274 COMMON SHEEP. 
exhibit much less activitj than the goats. They 
collect in a wild state into small Hocks,, and though 
they do not altogether avoid the mountains, gene- 
rally prefer dry open plains. They fight by butting 
against each other with their horns, and threaten 
by stamping on the ground with their feet. The 
female goes with young about five months, and 
usually produces one, sometimes two, and rarely 
three at a birth. 
There are, perhaps, strictly speaking, but three 
different species of sheep ; but of the common sheep 
there are no fewer than ten or twelve very distinct 
varieties. The horns are hollow, wrinkled, and 
bent backwards and outwards into a circular, or 
spiral form, generally at the sides of the head. 
The lower jaw has eight front teeth ; there are 
none in the upper jaw, nor any canine teeth in 
either. 
Common sheep. 
The general appearance of tins animal is too 
well known to need any description, but on atten- 
tive examination of its properties and habits, will 
afford considerable information and entertainment. 
Those animals, s' says Goldsmith, that take 
refuge under the protection of man, in a few gene- 
rations become indolent and helpless. Having lost 
the habit of self-defence, they seem to lose also 
the instincts of nature. The sheep, in its present 
domestic state, is of all animals the most defence- 
less and inoffensive. With its liberty it seems to 
have been deprived of its sw iftness and cunning ; 
and what in the ass might rather be called pa- 
tience, in the sheep appears to be stupidity. With 
no one quality to fit it for self-preservation, it 
makes vain efforts at all. Without swiftness, it 
endeavours to fly ; and without strength it some- 
