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Show 274. the inhabitants in their homes. He was familiar with their environment, but perhaps it was more important that he had some idea of the pleasures of their lives. Nevertheless, he began his essay with a survey of research, and reviewed the theories of Cuvier and Darwin on the origin of wild sheep. He asked whether all sheep came originally from the same species, and adapted to different environments, or whether they were of different origin. He gave a careful physical description of the Sierran sheep, and used Audubon's data on the Rocky Mountain Sheep. He could play the scientific game as well as anyone, but his attitude became crystal clear when he compared the wild sheep to the domestic variety. . . . the domestic sheep is expressionless, like a round bundle of something only half alive; the wild is elegant as a deer, and every muscle glows with life. The tame is timid; the wild is bold. The tame is always ruffled and soiled; the wild is trim and clean as the flowers of its pasture. This is the distinction he had made so many times between dirty men and clean wild animals. He knew why he didn't like tame sheep or tame men; now he could counterpoint his attitude with a careful and accurate portrait of one of Nature's best products. Man's domestic product inherited Man's problems, while wild sheep were "more guileless and approachable than any of their tame kindred." This would seem a paradox until the reader realized that wild sheep represented conditions before the pall. Muir admired their muscular beauty and watched them |
