Part 18

5. If they can not get away, they place the lambs in the center of the flock, and the old sheep face outward, the biggest rams in advance.

6. When the fox or the dog is within a few yards, the rams rush at him, and they are nearly always successful in killing or driving him away.

7. The ewe has so strong a love for her lamb, that she will face any danger to protect it.

8. One day a shepherd saw a fox in a high, rocky place, trying to get a young lamb; but the old ewe kept her head toward the fox, and gave him no chance.

9. At last the fox made a spring and seized the lamb, and at the same time the ewe struck him with her head, and they all went over the rocks and were killed.

10. There are sheep in South Africa which have tails so large and fat, that the people tie them to small carts so that the sheep can get about. The fat is used for butter.

LESSON XXXVI.

ABOUT GOATS.

1. In many ways the goat is like the sheep. It is about the same size, and has the same kind of teeth and hoofs, and it eats the same kind of food. It has a thick coat of hair. Some goats have fine hair that is made into cloth and nice shawls.

2. All the goats have spreading, sharp horns, and the billy-goat has a long beard, which hangs down almost to the ground. The kids are playful, like lambs, but they are shy, and do not like to come near folks.

3. The goat is more active than the sheep; it can run faster and jump higher, and it climbs rocks where a sheep can not go.

4. The billy-goat is apt to be cross, and then he runs and butts anything he meets.

5. Like the cow, the goat gives us milk, and butter, and cheese. It also gives fine leather for ladies’ shoes and for binding books, and the kid gives us soft leather which is made into gloves.

6. Goats do not live in large flocks like sheep, but they go about three or four together, and will pick up a living where a sheep would starve.

7. They are so sure-footed that they will climb up the sides of steep rocks, wherever they can find a place to put their little pointed hoofs.

LESSON XXXVII.

ABOUT PIGS.

1. The hog is about as large as a sheep, but its legs are shorter. It has a cloven hoof, but it does not chew a cud like the sheep.

2. It has a long, blunt nose called a snout, and this it can move about to smell something to eat. It can use its snout, also, to root up the ground for seeds and other food.

3. Its ears are large and lop over; and it has a queer little curly tail. It has four large pointed teeth, called tusks, and with these it can inflict worse wounds than a dog.

4. It is covered with coarse hair called bristles. Brushes of nearly all kinds are made of the bristles. The hog is kept warm not by its hair, but by its fat, which lies just under its skin.

5. Swine eat almost all kinds of food, and they eat a great deal and very often. When feeding at a trough, they root each other out of the way, and seem in a great hurry to get all they can.

6. When a pig is caught, or is hungry, it sets up a fearful squeal, which is worse to bear than the bray of a donkey.

7. When the pig runs out in a pasture, it roots up the ground so much that a ring is put through the thick edge of its snout; then, when he tries to root, the ring hurts so he stops.

8. It is not best to meddle with little pigs, and make them squeal, when the old sow is about, for she is ready to fight for them at any time.

9. The flesh of swine is called pork, and when salted and smoked it is bacon.

THE LITTLE PIGGIE WIG.

There was a little piggie wig, So fat it couldn’t run: With eyes that twinkled merrily, And tail that curled with fun.