370 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



among sheepmen as "marking." Branding consists of making some 

 kind of cut or slit on the ear, using the left ear for weathers and 

 the right for ewes, which makes an easy method for separating when 

 the sheep are being prepared for shipment. In addition to this, they 

 are stamped with a letter or sign indicating the owner. This is done 

 with a liquid made of linseed oil and lampblack, or more commonly 

 one of the prepared inks, a number of which are on the market, is 

 used. Tar will answer the purpose, but it will not come out in 

 scouring, and is considered a defect in the wool. It is, however, 

 cheaper and lasts longer. Marking in this way is necessary, as the 

 bands of different sheepmen frequently get mixed together, when 

 they are taken to the nearest corral and separated by the distinguish- 

 ing brand. 



After marking about 1,400 ewes are put together, which, with 

 their lambs, make a band of about 2,600. Ninety to a hundred per 

 cent of lambs is a good average for grade Shropshires and from 

 eighty to ninety per cent for Merinos in a good year. In exceptional 

 cases as high as one hundred and twenty per cent have been raised 

 on the ranges in Nevada and one hundred and twenty-five per cent 

 on pasture, as in the latter case, there is no loss from coyotes and 

 strays. In a pasture where there is no danger of becoming tied up 

 in the brush the twin lambs are frequently tied together by their 

 necks to prevent straying. If the previous winter has been a dry 

 one the number of dry ewes is greatly increased, especially if they 

 are only one and two years old. The younger the sheep the smaller 

 the percentage of lambs, as they are frequently dry and seldom pro- 

 duce twins. Sometimes a lamb will survive and its mother die, and 

 a ewe frequently loses her lamb. It is the custom, then, to take the 

 pelt off the dead lamb and put it on the motherless one, or, as it is 

 commonly called, the "bum" lamb, and give it to the ewe to bring 

 up, the pelt being removed after a few days. 



The greatest loss among the lambs is caused by the coyote, not 

 less than five per cent every year and sometimes more. Although 

 many hundreds are killed during the winter by the rifle, by poison- 

 ing and with traps, yet they seem to be on the increase. They are 

 extremely prolific, having from six to eight young ones in a fitter. 

 The spring of 1903 was a remarkable one in regard to the numerous 

 losses sustained by the depredations of this animal all over the State. 

 Some sheepmen are indifferent in regard to the destruction of the 

 coyote, leaving it to the more energetic to do their work for them. 

 There is a fifty cent bounty given by the State for the scalp of every 

 coyote, but this should be increased to one dollar, as the bounty is 

 hardly sufficient for anyone to make a business of killing them. 



When the lambing season is over the bands are ranged over the 

 lower areas, feeding on the spring flowers, young grass, onions, dan- 

 delions, chaenactis, phlox, carrots, hop sage, bitter brush and other 

 plants. One sheepherder is put in charge of each band of about 

 2,500 sheep. He has a "burro," or donkey, which goes with the 

 sheep and carries his bed for him, the camptender supplying the 

 camp and the necessary victuals and moving to a fresh portion of 



