Sheep supply us both with food and clothing: and the wool alone affords, in some countries, an amazing source of industry and wealth. They are harmless animals, and, in general, very shy and timid. The Sheep in the high mountains of Wales are very wild, and do not collect into large flocks, but graze in parties of from eight to a dozen. One is always placed at a distance from the rest, to give notice of the approach of danger. When he observes a stranger advancing, he allows him to approach as near, perhaps, as eighty or a hundred yards, but keeps a watchful eye upon his motions; if the stranger shows a design of coming closer, he alarms the rest of the flock by a loud hiss or whistle, twice or thrice repeated, when the whole party instantly scour away with great speed, to the most inaccessible parts of the mountains. No country produces finer Sheep than Great Britain. Of these the Sheep that are bred in Lincolnshire and the northern parts, are the largest and bear the most wool. In other parts of England they are generally smaller; and in the mountainous parts of Wales and Scotland they are very small.
THE GOAT.
THE GOAT.
Although very shy and timid in a wild state, goats are easily trained as domestic animals, being very sensible of kind treatment. The disposition of this creature is, however, extremely unsettled, as is shewn by the irregularity of all his actions. He walks, stops short, runs, leaps, approaches or retires, shews and conceals himself, or flies off, as if induced by mere whim, and without any other cause than what arises from the strange vivacity of his temper. Goats love to feed on the tops of hills, and prefer the very elevated and rugged parts of mountains, finding sufficient food in the most heathy and barren grounds. They are so active as to leap with ease and the utmost security, among the most dreadful precipices; and even when two of them are yoked together, they will, as it were by mutual consent, take the most hazardous leaps together, and exert their efforts in such a united manner as generally to get through the danger unhurt. In mountainous countries they are of great service to mankind; the flesh of the old ones being salted as winter provision, and the milk being used in many places for making cheese. These animals require but little care and attention, and easily provide for themselves proper and sufficient food.
THE STAG.
This is the most beautiful animal of the Deer kind. The elegance of his form, the lightness of his motions, the flexibility of his limbs, his bold branching horns, which are yearly renewed, his grandeur, strength and swiftness, give him a decided rank over every other inhabitant of the forest. The age of the Stag is known by its horns: he begins to shed them about the end of February or the beginning of March: each year they become larger.
