The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-04-07
Sheep or Hof Sc.

sets back about sevepty-iive feet
from the street, is one of the strang-
est freaks Of nature that has ever
been seen in Philadelphia, and one
which ia exciting great interest
among tho Psychologists whose ut
teution has been directed to it. Tue
wonder is what may be called II
sheep-horse. 10 other words, it is
an animal that has many of the
characteristics of a fine horse and
many of those OF a sheep.
On looking at the animal for the
first time the spectator is puzzled to
decide whether TO consider tho ami.
NAL q horse or an over-grown sheep.
Stand in front and look at hin he
undoubtedly resembles gray horse
of rather meek nat ure, a little on
the style Of the one which is said to
have drawn the famous zone boss
shay Turn him around. however,
and look ut him from the rear and
the spectator would be equally sure
he was an overgrown sheep just
waiting TO take gambol over the
fields. Tho animal has fine thick
coat Of genuine wool, which is as
heavy as that which grows upon the
ordinary sheep. It's skull is nm
doubtelly tho skull of n sheep, and
two projections can he felt on top
of il, where il seems us il rams
horns had started to grow the
nostrils are long and slender as the
sleeps nostrils tho tail is the
short stubby tail of the sheep. The
fore hoofs of the animal have an in
denture in tho middle, which snow
that they came very close TO being
cloven, aud tho hoofs of the hind
feot are also marked in tho SAME
way, although Ii OF quite so strongly
The hide, where it eau be seen by
reason of tho hair being worn off by
the haltor, is tue soft, oily hide of II
sheep. The owner stated to New,
reporter this morning that he shear
ed his sheep horse regularly il
sheep-shearing season aud alway,
gets good crop of wool off it
llc snid that he has a robe made
leon this wool, which he uses When
riding about in cold weather and t
good sized cap made FROM tue sam,
material.
Very little is known Of tbs strang'
combination Of sheep AMI horse Il
was cansht in Dakota territory bS
tho present owner, who is dealei
in horses. In purslit Of ms
business tho gentleman was one day
ri ling along uear tue Buffalo noun
tains with somo companions, whei
they came in sight oi troop Of wild
horses chase was imme diately Civ.
en-, anl after Il short pursuit th,
sheep horse wur singled out of th,
herd by its ambllDS gate and strange
appearance. As it rau it, threw iii
hind legs out like II sheep when run
uiug in the fold. The pursuers ais,
noticed, even at Il long distance, thl
strange coat which covered 1t, auC
strangely formed head, aud the.
started to run it dowL. This, how.
ever, was no easy undertaking, N
the animal ian easily, aud kept it up
At length, however, it was lassooec
and taken into the geutlemans quar-
ters. For long time it was very
, fractions, and it took time aud pa
tience to tame it. When, however
, it began to get used to stable-yarc
, treatment, 1t became docile. ano
I easily taught mauy little tricks. IT.
, nature proved to be in many respects
, that of sheep. 1t was playful, anC
, has rarely eyinced anything like vi
, ciousness. At the present time il
, knows how to perform twenty foul
tricks, which the owner has taught
1T, In travelling ON tho road it car
go at a fair trot, but the pace ii ex-
cells in is Running, having already
run. its owner states, u mile in less
than two minutes. 1t is now
years old aud stands IA hind,
high. IL was caught when tire,
years old, aud has since that time
been kept west of the Mississippi NJ
to three months ago, when it was
brought to this city. 1t has not ye
been shod, aud probably will not b'
as its hoofs boar the wear and tea
Of travel very we'll and its owpel
proposes to put it into the circu
ring as trick horse and curiosity
The owner takes pleasure ia show
ling hia cnrissity In acieutific persOns