Sheep are very useful animals: they are quiet and harmless. They tremble at the voice of the shepherd, or at the barking of his dog; but, on the great hills where they run about at liberty, away from the shepherd, they shew more courage. Sometimes a Ram or Wether will boldly attack a single dog, and often come off victorious; but when the danger is more alarming, they collect the strength of the whole flock. On such occasions they draw up in a complete body, placing the female and the young in the middle, while the males take the foremost ranks, keeping close by each other. Thus an armed front is formed on all sides that cannot easily be attacked without danger of destruction to the dog. In this manner they wait with firmness the approach of the enemy, nor does their courage fail them in the moment of attack: for, when the dog advances within a few yards of the line, the Rams dart upon him with such force as to lay him dead at their feet, unless he save himself in time by flight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE SHEEP. [Illustration: THE SHEEP. ] 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. [Illustration: THE GOAT. ]