Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/83

* SHECHEM. 63 SHEEP. xxxi. ). In the Hebrew invasion tiie Joseph tribes and Joshua move immediately upon Shechem, which becomes the first Israelite centre and is made a city of refuge (Josh. xxiv. 1; xx. 7). These traditions mention a cerlain holy tree, doubtless an ancient sanctuary, which was adopt- ed by the Hebrews, as were also the sacred tradi- tions connected with Ebal and Gerizim (q.v.). Shechem appears in the story of Abimclceh (Judith ix. ), but suffered eclipse through the Philistine wars and the rise of Jerusalem. Upon Jeroboam's revolt it was the centre of insurrec- tion, but was soon deserted as a capital for other places strategically fitter, fiuallj* j-ielding to Samaria. It rose again into prominence through the Samaritan schism in the fifth century B.C., becoming the centre of that sect, which erected a temple upon Gerizim as a rival to that in Jeru- salem. (See Samaritans.) It suffered in the later Jewish wars, and was rebuilt by Vespasiau as Flavia Neapolis ; hence its modern name Nabulus (q.v.). Consult the Palestine Explora- tion Fund Memoirs, vol. ii. (London, 1881); Baedeker, Palestine (Leipzig, 1898) ; George Adam Smith, Historical Geographi/ of the Holy Land (New York, 1901). SHECHINAH, she-ki'na. See Shekinah. SHEDD, William Greenough Thai-eb (1820- 94 ) . An American theologian, born at Acton, Mass. He graduated at the University of Ver- mont in 18.39, and at Andover Seminary in 1843. He was pastor of a Congregational church at Brandon, Vt., in 1844-4.5: professor of English literature in -the L'niversity of Vermont in 1845- 52; of sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology, Auburn Sen>inary, in 1852-53; and of ecclesias- tical history, Andover Theological Seminary, in 1853-62. He was pastor of "the Brick Presby- terian Church, New York, in 1862-G3 ; professor of bil)lical literature. Union Seminary, New York, in 1803-74; professor of systematic theology therc in 1874-90, when he became professor emeritus. His works include: History of Chris- tian Doctrine (1805; 8th ed. 1884) ; .ffo»!i7e<ics atid Pastoral Theology; The Doctrine of Endless Punishment (1886); Dogmatic Theology (1889- 94); Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy (1893); Cal- vinism Pure and Mixed (1893). SHEE, Sir Martin Archer (1769-1850). An English portrait painter and author. He was born in Dublin, and studied art there under Rob- ert Lucius West, and in London under Sir Joshua Reynolds. In 1800 he was made a member of the Royal Academy, of which he became president in 1830. He w-as a portrait painter of gi'eat popu- larity, though inferior in genius to his rival, Lawrence, and is especially well represented in the National Portrait Gallery. Among his sitters were the members of the royal family. He pub- lished, in 1805, Rhymes on Art. His harmless tragedy, Alasco. published in 1824, was refused a license as treasonable. Consult his Life by his graiidsnn (London, 1860). SHEEP (AS. sceap. seep. OHG. scaf, Ger. Schaf, sheep; of unknown et.ymology). A horn- less or hollow-horned ruminant belonging to the genus Ovis, and covered with a fleece of wool varying in color, length, fineness, and strength of the fibre. The male is designated a ram (or wether when castrated), the female a ewe, and the young a lamb. The principal products are wool, meat, and sheepskin. The entrails are used for sausage casings, or, when dried and twisted, for musical instrument strings (cat- gut) ; the fat yields tallow and suet; and the milk in some countries is used, either alone or with cows' milk, for making cheese (q.v.). Flocks of special milk breeds are kept primarily for their milk. In mountainous parts of India sheep are used as beasts of burden. The sheep is one of the oldest of the domesticated animals, and is mentioned in many of the most ancient writings. It was especially adapted to the modes of life and the needs of primitive peo- ples, whose wealtli was measured mainly by their docks. The offspring were much used for sacri- ficial purposes. Sheep have contributed largely to the wealth and development of every country where man has introduced them as adjuncts of settled agricul- ture. Although the,v flourish best in temperate climates, they readil.v adapt themselves to changed climatic and other conditions, and breeds have been developed which thrive from the sea level to the mountain heights and upon a great variety of soils and vegetation. Sheep are supposed to have been developed from wild forms to which they are related, but opinions differ widely as to which ones ; nay, further, controversy has not settled that their progenitors still exist in the wild state. They are most conunonly thought to have descended from the mouflon, the musimon, or the argali. No domesticated shee]) were fotmd in North America by the early explorers. The wild Rocky Jlountain sheep has neither been successfully domesticated nor crossed with the domestic sheep. Under domestication, due partly to dif- ferences in altitude, climate, feed. etc.. and partly to man's intervention, many breeds and varieties of sheep have been produced; and domesticated sheep furnish some of the best illustrations of the great diversity in characters and adaptation to the needs of man which may be brought about by intelligent breeding. Breeds of Sheep. Sheep are commonly classi- fied according to their fleece into long-wooled, middle or medium-wooled, and short or fine- wooled breeds. ( See Wool. ) The names of the breeds or varieties within these general divisions are often derived from the habitat of the sheep or the name of the breeder who has been promi- nently identified with their development. The long-wooled breeds, e.g. Lcicesters, Lincolns, and Cotswolds, are usually white-faced, somewhat coarse fleshed and lethargic, and are of English origin. The Leicester is of special historic in- terest because it was the first breed to be im- proved b.y skillful selection and breeding, and because it has been used in improving all the other long-wooled breeds. This breed, whose progenitors were the long-wooled sheep of the Midland counties of England, owes its origin to Robert Bakewell. who developed it purely by selection with reference to a definite mental standard, and apparently without resorting to crossing with other kinds or breeds. This Im- proved Leicester, which has persisted practically as Bakewell developed it, is a hornless sheep, with a somewhat 'lashy' wool, seven or eight inches long, terminating in a short twist which gives it a fine curly appearance. The animal is .somewhat smaller than the original type, but is more symmetrical, thicker, deeper, of better