PERMANENT MARKS ON SHEEP. 183 



treatment, breeding, &c. In "Sheep Husbandry in the 

 South," I recommended Von Thaer's elaborate system of 

 permanently numbering lambs, by notches on the ear. By 

 this, one notch over the left ear signifies 1 ; two notches over 

 the same, 2 ; one notch under the same, 3 ; three notches 

 under the left ear, 9; one notch over the right ear, 10; two 

 over same, 20 ; a notch under the right ear, 30 ; three notches 

 under right ear, 90 ; a notch in end of left ear, 100 ; in the 

 end of right ear, 200 ; these added together, 300 ; the point of 

 the left ear cut square off, 400 ; the point of the right ear cut 

 square off, 500 ; the latter and the notch for 100 added, 600, 

 and so on. 



Von Thaer indicated the age by round holes in the ears. 

 As there could not be a mistake of ten years in the age of a 

 sheep, the holes are the same for every succeeding ten years. 

 The absence of any hole indicates the beginning of each 

 decade of years, as 1840, 1850, or 1860; one hole hi left 

 ear, 1861; two holes in left, 1862; one hole in right, 1863; 

 one hole in right, and one in left, 1864 ; one hole in right and 

 two in left, 1865 ; two in right, 1866 ; two in the right, and 

 one in left, 1867 ; two in each, 1868 ; three in the right, 1869 ; 

 none in either, 1870.* 



I have again given this system of numbering because it 

 has proved a highly satisfactory one to some pains-taking 

 men ; but I confess I long since got tired of and abandoned 

 it. It requires considerable trouble ; and if the holes and 

 notches are not made large enough to mutilate the ear, they 

 are liable to heal up or become obscure ; and they therefore 

 require watching while healing. Even when made as small 

 as will answer, they still, in high numbers, cause a dis- 

 agreeable mutilation. 



There is another German system by which the different 

 numerals are made by rows of sharp,- steel points inserted in 

 metallic types, as in the two upper figures on following 

 page ; and these types have dovetails which can be slid into 

 corresponding grooves (a a a a in cut on next page) in the 

 lower jaw of a pair of nippers constructed for the purpose, 

 and thus will be made ready for use. 



The inside of the ear is smeared with a thick paint made 

 of vermillion, indigo, or gunpowder and whiskey. By means 

 of the nippers, the steel points giving the proper numbers, are 



* The proper instrument to use is a spring punch like those used by railroad 

 conductors cutting a hole a little less than one-fourth of an inch in diameter. James 

 Martin, 20 Beaver Street, Albany, manufactures beautiful ones of any size, to order. 



