LEAPING, 591 



among tlie ewes ; l}ut they are noAv kept apart from them 

 during the rutting season. A separate paddock, or small 

 enclosure, is appropriated for the purpose, and to keep them 

 quiet a couple of ewes are permitted to remain beside them. 

 The ewes of the flock are brought to them, and they are 

 only permitted to leap them once. The consequence of 

 this improved method is, a ram is enabled to impregnate 

 nearly double the number of ewes he would do, if allowed 

 to go amongst them without any restraint, more especially a 

 young ram. Formerly from sixty to eighty ewes were con- 

 sidered as many as a ram could serve ; whereas, now, from 

 one hundred to one hundred and twenty are impregnated by 

 a single ram. Instances have occurred where one ram has 

 served seven score in a season, but this is decidedly injudi- 

 cious. 



Much attention is required by the shepherd during the 

 rutting season, to see that rams leap those ewes which are 

 in season, as the ram will sometimes take a fancy for a par- 

 ticular sheep, which probably is not in sufficient heat to re- 

 ceive him, and will remain with her a whole day inactive, 

 and will drive off such other ewes as come near him. When 

 the shepherd notices a circumstance of this kind, he should 

 remove the favourite ewe to a great distance from the ram ; 

 that is, of course, in cases where he is not kept apart from 

 the flock. 



To ascertain when the ewes have been served, it is a good 

 practice to rub the breast of the ram with red keel, or other 

 dry paint, which will leave a mark on those which he has 

 leaped. But this is not a sure criterion, as tups frequently 

 leap without accomplishing their end. 



It is of great consequence that both rams and ewes should 

 be in good condition before the rutting season, which of 

 course must be regulated by climate, and the necessary 



