Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-02-10

NlSssS' m I'm
SHEEP AND Docs. We recently had
the pleas nre of visiting the farmhouse of s
W. Jes 'ett, Esq, of Weybridge, in this
state, I he enterprising Green Mountain
Farmer who has imported so many French
Sheep, and introduced them into his native
State or the benefit of the wool-growinp
Interes and the lining of his own pocket.
We &C Mess we we're not little rrati6ed
on an examination of his fiocks. We
found them altogether superior race OF
ANNA Is, far exceeding our expectations
They had the appearance of much strength
and h irdihood of constitution, with heavy
and fiji he fleeces. IN one of the pens, all OF
which we're neat and convenient, we saw a
fine l'up, of the Scotch Sheep Dog, OF
which. the above engraving is far specl-
men. We copy from the N. E. Farmer
the following remarks on the race of the
Shep ards dog
L he sheep dog, in all ages and climates,
pres erves lis peculiar properties, and tho
Their may be several races, their character
istc are similar; and II is the least re-
NOV ed of any race from the natural type OF
the dog. For certain purposes this race
has been modifisi, as by cross with the
mas lif stronger race is produced to guard
the llocks against wolves. When the dog
is tc' serve as a guide rather than proiec-
tor, he is rather small, activity being an I'M
port ant object.
| he muzzle Of the shepard's dog is sharp,
the ears, short and erect, the tail is long aud
busiIy. like that of a fox; and he is gener-
ally covered with thick shabby hair, parlic-
ular ly about the neck. lie is usually black
or black prevails, mixed with gray or brown.
The true sheep dog is regarded by the
she ep as guide and friend, but some ofthe
Gro sses with ferocious races are the objects
of dread, and often injure the sheep by
trlg hit and violent attacks upon them, espe-
Gladly under brutal shepherd. In such
cases the dog is worse than useless.
The sheep dog is distinguished for his
int diligence, fidelity, obedience and sagaci-
ty, performing naturally what other dogs
would do only after long course Of train
ing. In many cases this dog will do more
in assisting shepard than several men,
ard often performs what it is not in the
power of man 10 do. The following re-
marks, showing the fidelity, sagacity and
intelligence Of this valuable animal, will be
( read with interest.
Mr.. James Hogg, the Etirlck Shepard,
living in his early days among the sheep and
their quadruped attendants, and an accurate
s observer OF nature, as well as an exquisite
poet, gives some anecdotes of the coley.
/ (the Highland term for sheep dog with
which the reader will not be displeaseG -
My dog SIrrah," says he, in letter to
the editor of Blackwood's Edinburgh Mag
azine, "was beyond all comparison, the
best dog | ever saw. He had somewhat
surly and unsocial temper, dsdaued all
iiattery and refusing to be caressed; but
his attention to my commands and interest
will never again be equalled by any of the
canine race. When first saw him, dro.
yer was leading him with rope. He was
both lean and hungry, and far from being a
beautiful animal for he was almost black, |
aud had grim face, striped with dark |
brown. thought perceived sort of sui
len Intelligence in his countenance, not
standing his detected and forlorn appear
ance, aud / bought him He was scarcely
wear old, and knew so little of herding
that he had never turned a sheep in his life
but, as soon as he discovered tina. il was |
his duty TO do so, and that it obliged me, | |
can never forget with what anxiety and ea-
gerness he learned his different evolu,ions
and when | once made him understand
a direction, he never forgot or mistook
it,"
On one night, large flock of lambs that
were under the Etlrick Shepard's care,
frightened by something, scampered away
IN three different directions across the hills,
in spite of all he could do to keep them to-
gether. "Sirrah," said the shepherd,
"theyre a. awav
II was too dark for the dog and his mas
ter to see each other at any considerable
distance, but Sirrah understood him, and
set of after the fugityes. The night pass
ed on, and Hogg and his assistant lrayersed
every nelghboring hill in anxious but fruit
less search for the lambs but he could
hear nothing of them nor of the dog, and
he was returning TO his master with the
doleful intelligence that he had lost all his
lambs. "On our way home, however"
says he, "we discovered a lot Of lambs at
the bottom of deep ravDe called the Flesh
Cleucb. aud the interchangeable Sirrah stand ,
ing in front of them, looking round for some /
relief, but still true to his charge. We con- a
cluded that IT was one of the divisions '
which Sirrab had been unable to manage, 4
until he came to that commanding siiua- c
ton. But what was our asionishment when {
we discovered that not one lamb of the flock 5
was missing How he had got all the d. ?
visions collected in the dark is beyond my O
comprehension. The charge was left en- $
iirely to himself from midnight until the 1
rising sun; and, if all the shepherds in the il
forest had been there to have assisted him, b
they could not have effected it with greater s.
All that can say is, that Il
never felt SO grateful to any creature under I,
he sun as did to my honest Slfrah tina, "
III
A shepherd, IN one Of his excursions over Of
he Grampian Hills to collect his scattered d.
flock. took with him. las is a frequent prac- W