Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-10-30
On a Sherp RHHch.

| One bl tue amusing rlSniS "ut "'Sis az
a;e, Ia n Star writer. IL The q cks Oi
huck- on the sheep ranches ia Arizona
aud New Mrxicu. There are crrisin re-
gious given up To sheep rai-ing. and one
can fad nu Fl : hich number as high as
$4,000 sheep. These are divided int
II ,cks, never more than 5000 ia bunch
while the bunches may be within a few
miles Of each other, they are kept separate
and apart, aud never allowed To mingle
Five thousand sheep in Il bunch Is about
all thai The genlns of man or dog can
handle To- advantage.
Daring certain seasons 0f the year The
bucks are buuched together by themselves,
aud these are the wunlIy folk who furnish
the entertainment. All day long they
hsht shaun duels with each olhr, aud
every waking moment in the u hour
will offer the oulooker a spectacle oi full
thirty of these cnmhaIs raging at time
The sheep seem Ia have fashion of codr
aud cnnduct these atiiirs of honor with n
great deal of orier aud drcnrum.
They are never tor blond. and resemble
sparring match f'r prints between b'x
ers. ar jpn.t with blunje,l spears b tween
knights Of ndeu lime. As ynu watch the
fl 'ck grazing nlnng your eye will he ar"us
ell tn some buck. who suddenly ceaser
feeding and riauds for moment in -
lhoughtlul attitude. 1t has suddenly oc.
Cured ln this champion that he would
Ell " brief bunting bout, and lie lunk,
up aud down the block for an adversary
Having selected his lellnw duelisl. he
walks toward him with very disui6rd.
almnsi hanghly air The buck thus hon
ored by his uolice raises hi head as he il
approached aud lm,ks at the other with
great calmne-s. The particular m,r.no
who is resolved on trouble goe- quite cl"sr
to the other. and IA stiff. formal WAY
strikes him once or iWice with his iure
foot. I his hoof maneuver would seem To
he the challenge.
The buck thus tapped. and the blow l.
bestowed somewhere about the fore IT,, 6,
bows profoundly. as if in haughIy acqui-
e,cence, and begins To back slowly away.
The challenger does The same. Wien
they have separated to distance of per
haps rhirry wards. they will spring inro
the air once or twice. in u stiff legged way.
~ if testing ih,ir Ihcvs. navirg rat
i.frd themselves that they are decIdedl,
in working old,r, aud as if with The same
impulse, they lower their heads and rusl
al each other.
They meet half way with crash which
can he heard acruss the plains iur a mile
aud each buck Is 70 severely jplred as ro
be driven backward several feet. BpWul
with great Difference Ia each other, The,
then retreat hack ward rs they dld beior'
aud To about the same distance. aud
charge again. Their woolly parcs viii
crash together second lime, after which
they will retreat for third. Before nu,
ar the other j. enlirrly sali-Ii II they will
run some six or seven of III Sc cuur.es.
A. lat one will signify in n dIgnIfird
way, and 10y simply ,uruing hi- attention
L. cropping the gra-s. thai he d"esn I car'
for any more exercise nf that sort al that
time. Ills adversary may tel like mn
other hunt, bul he never urges his wish
aud it lh,re Is siil any c"mhsi in him
which must he worked II. he hunts an
other sheep. Sometimes when t"o huc :
are pulling IF duel snme other buck
will he attracted by the sight.
Without asking auyhodys permission
he will lower his head and charge viii
the others. Instead "t duel There will
H.. lrio. Ocua,iruaily II inurlh. even n
| If h. ~il lake larl. aud ~ many ~ eigh
bucks have been seen all hilaiinu-l \
charging lnra cnmm II center in n fashion
of w"nlly Dauuy yhrnnk inir.
Thee buck tournaments npnpar IN al
fnrd the rhrep great satisfaction. They
conduct thrm Wiih gravity, and ~ - on
uf them ever get hurt. and all "f hen
seem much Refreshed thereby, the sheer
herders never Interfere.