Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-27
ON A SHEEP RANCH,
The DfEnified Procedure When &
Bucks Met In ;COnnfcf, -.

The Dfsnified Procedure When the
Bucks Met In ;COnnict. S---
One of the amusing sights out west, as
related to Star writer. is the f1ocks of
bucks on the sheep ranches In Arizona and
New Mexico. There are certain regions
given up to sheep raising, and one can find
outfits which number as high as $1,000
sheep. These are divided into flocks, never
more than 5000 in a bunch, and while the
punches may be within few miles of each
other, they are kept separate and apart,
and never allowed to mingle. Five thou
sand sheep in a bunch is about all that the
genius of man or dog can handle to adj
vantage,
During certain seasons of the year the
bucks are punched together by themselves
and these are the woo1ly folk who furnish
the entertainment. All day long they fight
sham duels with each other, and every
waking moment in the twenty-four will
offer the onlooker spectacle of full thirty
Of these combats raging at time. The
sheep seem to have a fashion of code and
conduct these affairs of honor with a great
deal of order and decorum.
They are never for blood, and resemble
sparring match for points between box
ers, or joust with blunted spears between
knights of olden time. As you watch the
flock grazing along your eye will be arous-
ed to some buck, who suddenly ceases feed
ing and stands for a moment in thought
this champion that he would enjoy a brief
bunting bout, and he looks I'D and down
the block for an adversary. .H.4
Having selected bis fellow duelist, he
walks toward him with a very dignifed,
almost naughty air. The buck thus honor
ed by his notice raises his head as he is
approached and looks at the other with
great calmness. The particular merino who
is resolved on trouble goes quite close to
the other, and in a stiff, formal way strikes
him once or twice with his fore foot. This
hoof maneuver would seem to be the chal-
lenge.
The buck thus tapped. and the blow is
bestowed somewhere about the fore legs,
bows profoundly, as IL in naughty acqufes-
cence. and begins to back slowly away
The challenger does the same When they
thirty yards, Trey will spring into the air
once or twice in a stiff-iegged way, as IL
testing their thews. Having satisfied them
selves that they are decidedly in working
order, and as If with the same Impulse.
they lower their heads and rush at each
other.
They meet half way with a crash which
can be heard across the plains for a mile
and each buck is so severely jolted as to be
driven backward several feet Bowling with
great difference to each other, they then
retreat backward as they did before. and
to about the same distance and charge
again. Their woolly pates will crash to-
gether second time after which they will
retreat for a third. Before one or the
otner is entirely SatlSned they VIII run
some six or seven of these courses
At last one will signify in dignifed way,
and by simply turning his attention to
cropping the grass, that he doesn't care for
any more exercise of that sort at that
time. His adversary may feel like another
bunt, but he never urges his wish, and IL
there is still any combat in him, which
must be worked off, he hunts another
sheep. Sometimes when two bucks are
pulling off duel some other buck will be
attracted by the sight.
Without asking anybody's permission he
will lower his head and charge with the
others. Instead of a duel there will be a
trio. Occasionally fourth, even a fifth,
will take part and as many as eight bucks
have been seen all hilariously charging for
a common center in fashion of a woolly
Donnybrook fair.
These buck tournaments appear to af-
ford the sheep great satisfaction. They
conduct them with gravity, and as none Of
them ever get hurt, and all of them seem
much refreshed thereby, the sheep herders
never interfere.