866 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The breeds of sheep of the central Pyrenees, Girard [Rev. Vet. [Toulouse], 

 39 {19W, Nos. 7, pp. 402-J,12; 8, pp. 460-472; .9, pp. 523-532, pis. 2, figs. 7).— 

 An account of the native breeds of sheep of the central Pyrenees, their breed 

 characteristics, and utility value. 



Corriedale sheep in United States (Jam: Heredity, 6 (1915), No. 2, p. 96). — 

 A brief account of a recent importation of 10 Corriedale rams and 54 ewes, 

 recently made by the U. S. Department of Agriculture from New Zealand. 

 "The breed, which originated in tbe Province of Canterbury, New Zealand, in 

 the late seventies and was long linown officially as ' inl)red half-breds.' resulte<l 

 from a Lincoln X Merino cross and in part from an English Leicester X Merino 

 cross. It interests the stockman because it offers a combination of wool and 

 mutton qualities, and the genetist because it ai)i)ears to breed fairly true in 

 spite of the short time that has elapsed since its formation. In appearance it 

 is very nearly a blend between the two parents, and there seems to be little 

 segregation of characters in the breed at present." 



The sheep-killing dog, V'. O. McWiiorter (U. ti. Dept. Afjr., Fcnner.s' Bill. 

 652 {1915), pp. 13, figs. 3). — It is estimated that the total annual loss in num- 

 bers of sheep Ivilled by dogs in 30 farm States, not including tbe western divi- 

 sion, is 107,760 head, which although less than 1 per cent of the total number 

 of sheep in these States, is sufficient to decrease materially the possible profits 

 and to discourage the development of the industry. 



From replies received from croj) correspondents it is estimated that the 

 present number of sheep in these States can be increased by 1.50 per cent with- 

 out displacing other live stock on farms. These replies furtliermore indicate 

 that sheep raising is considered pi'ofitable but that dogs are the main barrier 

 to keeping them. The author advocates a higher dog tax, thus reducing the 

 number of superfluous dogs, and the adoption of more effective state dog laws. 

 An outline of what is deemed a suitable dog law is suggested. Tbis provides 

 for the taxation of dogs, the identification of licensed dogs, dealing with stray 

 or sheep-killing dogs, and compensation to the sheep owners for losses. An effec- 

 tive dog-proof fence is described. 



The age of goats according to their teeth, Scheunpflug (Berlin. Tierarztl. 

 WchnscJir., 30 (1914), A'o. 28, pp. 503, 504; ahs. in Intemat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], 

 Mo. Bill. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 5 (1914). -Vo. 10. pp. 1337-1339).— The 

 data found in the literature on the replacing of the teeth in sheep are com- 

 pared with the author's observations on goats. 



It appears that the termination of the period during which the incisors are 

 replaced is nearly the same in goats as in early-maturing sheep. The period 

 between tbe replacing of the first and second pairs of incisors in sheep is about 

 two months shorter than in goats, but the interval between the second and 

 third pairs is shorter in goats. The temporary molars are replaced earlier in 

 goats than in sheep, in goats shortly before the cutting of the third molar, in 

 sheep only after the cutting of the latter or at the same time. 



A detailed description is given of the appearance of the teeth of the goat 

 up to three years of age. 



The digestibility of maize consumed by swine, S. C. Guernsey and J. M. 

 EvvARD (Bioehem. Bill, 3 (1914), No. 11-12. pp. 369-373).— This is a preliminary 

 report of work conducted during 1909, 1910, and 1911 at the Iowa Experiment 

 Station, in which four lots of five animals each of 12-month-old 200-Ib. hogs 

 and of SO-day-old 70-lb. hogs were fed corn in five different forms, and two 

 digestion trials of 10 days' duration made with each lot. The results are 

 summarized in the table following. 



