THE LAMBING TIME. 131 



and sundry kinds of death, and when once a flock goes wrong 

 the individuals composing it exhibit a weakness of constitu- 

 tion which the above picture would little lead a tyro to 

 expect. All is well as long as the flock is kept healthy, but 

 the mortality is terrible when the conditions of health have 

 been outraged. These strokes of " bad luck " are familial: to 

 most farmers, but may be avoided by strict observance of the 

 laws of health. 



The cause may be remote in point of time, but, when the 

 blow falls, it usually falls heavily. At such times the entire 

 flock has been known to succumb, or it may be that the loss 

 is measured by scores of lives. 



Constant forethought and observance of the rules of good 

 management are the best safeguards, and when due precau- 

 tions are always taken, the rate of mortality can be kept 

 within bounds. A competent shepherd thinks carefully over 

 every change of food or situation, and often, by a timely word 

 of caution or practical suggestion, saves his master from loss ; 

 and, on the other hand, a careless or inexperienced man may 

 in a few hours do incalculable mischief. Good general man- 

 agement, careful feeding, and judicious changes are better 

 means of keeping a flock in health than any amount of tinker- 

 ing or doctoring. A flock well treated during the months 

 preceding the lambing season approach that critical period in 

 robust health, with well kept fleeces, bright eyes, and clean 

 faces. Their dung falls in the form of glossy black pellets, 

 and there is no indication of scour or dirt about the tail. The 

 animals, are, in fact, clean both before and behind, and all 

 between looks thriving and lusty. When ewes come up to 

 the lambing pen in the condition we have endeavoured to 

 describe, we may hope for what is called good luck in lambing, 

 and as we have no wish to describe a badly-managed flock, 

 we shall assume that due regard having been paid to the 

 previous management, our flock approaches the great event of 

 the year in a healthy state. 



Parturition is a thoroughly natural event. It is not strictly 



