FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 127 



The Period of Gestation in Ewes. 



Of all our domestic animals none, perhaps, are more ir- 

 regular as to time in bringing forth their offspring than is 

 the ewe. The normal period of gestation of the ewe is 145 

 days, but rarely do we find one punctual in this respect. 

 Experience has taught me that sometimes where ewes are 

 served on the same day they vary considerably as to the time 

 when they lamb. Sometimes we find them lambing a week 

 before the normal period, while at other times we find them 

 going a full week over this period. Lambs that are born 

 twelve days previous to the expiration of the normal period 

 of gestation rarely survive more than a few hours at most, 

 if at all, after birth. 



The period of heat in ewes generally commences, in this 

 country, in the month of September; in England it com- 

 mences much earlier in the season, in fact it seems that the 

 ewe will take the ram in that country almost at any time 

 when not actually in lamb. Climatic influence has, no 

 doubt, much to do with this. 



How to Tell a Sheep's Age. 



Most shepherds can generally tell the age of a sheep pretty 

 correctly without examination of teeth, or in other words, 

 from its general appearance, whilst many just entering into 

 the sheep business have but a very slight idea of how to 

 tell the age of a sheep. Sheep, like other ruminants, have 

 eight incisors. These are all in the under jaw. In place of 

 incisor teeth on the upper jaw, a tough pad is provided, called 

 the dental' pad, which serves the place of teeth. Sheep have 



