OF FOOT*HOT IN SHEEP. 213 
whole hoof, too, is secreted from the vascular tissue underneath, 
lhere are, besides, two supplementary digits at the fetlock. 
Now, this diversity of structure is for particular purposes. 
The crust, like that in the hocf of the horse, being harder and 
tougher than the sole, keeps up a sharp edge on the outer mar¬ 
gin, and is mainly intended to resist the wear and tear to which 
the foot of the animal is exposed. 
“ In a state of nature,*” says Mr. Wilson (Quarterly Journal 
of Agriculture, page 354) “ the sheep is not less active and 
energetic than the goat; its dimensions are fully greater, and its 
muscular strength is at least equal, both in force and duration, 
ft is also an alpine animal, fearless of crag and cliff, and dwell¬ 
ing, indeed, by preference , among the steepest and most inac¬ 
cessible summits of lofty mountains . Among its native fast¬ 
nesses, it is seen to bound from rock to rock with inconceivable 
swuftness and agility.” And there the construction of its feet, 
the sharp hard tough margins of the crust, enable it to catch 
hold of the smallest ridge w ith the greatest security. In climb¬ 
ing and leaping among rocks, however, in this manner, or tra¬ 
velling on the sides of mountains along the sheep-tracks, its hoofs 
must be riluch worn or otherwise destroyed ; but, it is found, that 
the hotfsof all animals, by such circumstances, become possessed 
of a degree of hardness and toughness which they do not possess 
under other circumstances. The hoofs of horses, Jby exercise 
without shoes on a hard surface, are changed in this way to a 
certain extent. The hoof is worn aw r ay as it grow s ; but as the 
consumption is equal to the production, it is always fresh and 
sound. This is the case with w ild animals, and those of a half 
domesticated kind are but little changed from it. 
But what is the effect of domestication ?—What do we gain 
by enticing the sheep from his native and natural haunts, to the 
richer pasturage of our meadows or lawns? lhere the animal 
enjoys a more luxuriant repast; it fattens to a larger size, and 
w ill, in this respect, repay the increased allowance which has 
been made to it. But, instead of moving about in small troops 
w ith the alacrity of the wild kinds, the sheep are seen in ffoeks 
of thousands moving slowly over their pastures, and gorging 
themselves to an extent which cuts short the thread of life, bv 
the advancement of various diseases. Instead of wandering 
from the summit of one peak to another, in quest of a scanty 
subsistence, or, instead of being compelled to descend from the 
summits of the mountain in the morning, and ascend again in 
the evening, they are compelled, in many cases, to remain within 
a few yards of a particular spot for weeks together, and thero 
engorge themselves to satiety. * 
VOL. IV. G <r 
