year this shepherd, accompanied by the same dog,
brought up another flock. On being questioned
how he had got on, he said, much better than the
year before, as his dog now knew the road, and
had kept the sheep from going up any of the lanes
or turnings which had given him so much trouble
in his former journey. The distance was not less
than four hundred miles."[1]
Mr. Darwin has described in an amusing manner the sheep-dogs of the plains of South America, to whom the unassisted care of the flocks is devolved, and whose courage is exercised only by the stimulus of their charge. "When riding, it is a common thing to meet a large flock of sheep, guarded by one or two dogs, at the distance of some miles from any house or man. I often wondered how so firm a friendship had been established. The method of education consists in separating the puppy, when very young, from the bitch, and in accustoming it to its future companions. An ewe is held three or four times a day for the little thing to suck, and a nest of wool is made for it in the sheep-pen. At no time is it allowed to associate with other dogs, or with the children of the family. . . . . From this education it has no wish to leave the flock, and just as another dog will defend its master, so will these the sheep. It is amusing to observe, when approaching a flock, how the dog immediately advances barking,—and the sheep all close in his rear as if round the oldest ram. These dogs are also easily taught to bring home the flock at a certain time in the evening. . . . The shepherd-dog comes to the house every day for some meat,
- ↑ Gleanings, p. 49.
