THE CARE OF SHEEP 381 



well applied, and the numbers are lacking in distinctness. In 

 speaking of the "brist-mark," commonly used in England 

 and Scotland, W. Sutherland* says: 



"The brist mark which is put on the sheep immediately after they 

 are shorn, usually consists of the initial letter, or letters, of the owners' 

 name, the stamp being formed of stout sheet-iron, attached to a handle 

 about two feet in length. Boiling tar or pitch, or a mixture of the two, is 

 the substance generally employed." 



A private flock book is very important with the pure- 

 bred flock. A card catalog system may serve the same pur- 

 pose. A careful record in ink should be kept in the book 

 or on cards, giving the name and private flock number as 

 well as the association registry number. It is the common 

 custom to have a private ear tag in one ear, and the registry 

 number furnished by the association in the other ear. The 

 date of lambing, names and numbers of both sire and dam, 

 names of breeders, sources from which obtained, if pur- 

 chased, and cost. Space should also be provided for mak- 

 ing record of disposal by sale or otherwise. Dealers in 

 shepherds' supplies sell st r adard private flock books, or one 

 may be easily made by using a wide-paged record book. 



Shelter for sheep is desirable in winter, when storms pre- 

 vail and snow is abundant. A common, inexpensive shed, 

 open to the South, will serve the purpose. It is a good plan 

 to have swinging doors, which may be hung inside overhead, 

 and lowered in very severe weather. A wind-break of trees 

 often furnishes excellent shelter in winter. On the hills of 

 Scotland where hundreds of thousands of sheep roam the 

 year round, no shelter is usually provided, excepting that 

 found in the nooks in the valleys. On the western range 

 many sheep perish in severe winter storms because of lack 

 of artificial shelter. The important thing is to keep the 

 sheep dry and protected from snow and heavy winter winds. 



Exercise for sheep is essential under certain conditions. 

 As a rule, sheep have exercise enough, but in snow-bound 

 regions, they should, if possible, be driven out into the yards 



*Sheep Farming. A treatise on sheep, 1892. 



