A man walking along a road in the countryside came across a shepherd and a huge flock of sheep. He tells the shepherd, "I will bet $100 against one of your sheep that I can tell the exact number in this flock.”

The shepherd thinks it over. It is a big flock, so he takes the bet. "973," says the man. The shepherd is astonished. The man was exactly right. He says, "Okay. I am a man of my word, take an animal.”

The man picks one up and begins to walk away. "Wait!", cries the shepherd. "Let me have a chance to get even. Double or nothing that I can guess your exact occupation.”

The man agreed. "You are an economist for a government think tank,” says the shepherd.

"Amazing!" responds the man. "You are exactly right! Tell me, how did you deduce that?"

"Well,” says the shepherd, "put down my dog and I will tell you.”