154 SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



expected that twins will in turn produce twins, and hence 

 rams and ewes which have been twins might properly be 

 selected to propagate their species. Fertility is as likely to be 

 inherited as any other property, and with it the natural accom- 

 paniments of good nursing and abundant milk supply. I am 

 inclined to think that ewes are naturally disposed to produce 

 a pair of lambs, and that single lambs are to be regarded as a 

 degree less normal than twins. Thus, when ewes are in good 

 order and keep is abundant both of which conditions must 

 be regarded as strictly natural the number of twins is imme- 

 diately increased, and sometimes almost the whole flock pro- 

 duces doubly. This indicates the best method of obtaining a 

 big crop of lambs, namely, keeping the ewes well throughout 

 summer. Extreme fatness or extreme poverty both militate 

 against fertility, but a judicious mean and plenty of good food 

 during the period of conception produce an opposite effect. 

 Ewes which have been barren during one season will often 

 conceive early and produce two strong lambs the succeeding 

 spring, and purchased ewes which have been caked will 

 generally produce a lot of lambs. 



YOUNG LAMBS. 



The first duty of the shepherd after a lamb is born is to 

 clear its mouth of mucus, and see it draw its first breath. 

 Previous to birth the foetus receives oxygen through the 

 mother. It is her lungs which vivify its blood, and her 

 digestive system which prepares its nourishment. But with 

 the breaking of the umbilical cord comes the necessity for air, 

 and after a convulsive movement of the diaphragm and inter- 

 costal muscles the young creature gasps, and generally utters 

 its first cry. Whether the almost universal practice of shep- 

 herds of blowing into the lamb's mouth facilitates this action 

 is not certain, but it is probable that this simple expedient 

 excites the slumbering vitality, and causes the necessary 

 muscular contraction A slap with the flat of the hand across 



