210 SHEEP : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



ence, we should say enjoy a certain immunity from sore heads. 

 Shropshire sheep, with their woolly helmets, Oxfords and 

 Cotswolds with their characteristic fore-locks, Hampshires, 

 and, to a less degree, Southdowns, are not plagued with flies 

 about the head. It is at the roots of the small rudiments of 

 the horn that flies first find out a weak spot. There they are 

 no doubt first attracted by dirt and some form of decomposition 

 which it appears Nature designs these creatures to feed upon 

 and destroy. Any animal odour attracts them, and they be- 

 come the cause of irritation, and this again induces a serious 

 exudation which still further encourages attack. The flies 

 now settle in swarms upon the devoted head. They trample 

 with their tiny feet and perforate the skin for juices, until the 

 effect is a broad scald extending over the crown. The poor 

 animal in vain attempts to shake off his persecutors. He runs, 

 he suddenly stops, he wags his tail, but not in pleasure ; he stamps 

 his feet, he throws himself down, and by shaking his head 

 and ears, and taking some advantage of the bents which cover 

 his pasture, attempts an ineffective resistance to his enemies. 

 No sheep can fatten or thrive in this condition. His only 

 relief is sunset or night ; but in the early morning he is again 

 subjected to slow torture. Such is the ailment next for the 

 treatment. 



One of the essentials of treatment where large flocks are 

 concerned is simplicity. Unless a remedy can be suggested 

 which may be applied by the shepherd rapidly, and in accord- 

 ance with his habits and notions, it is not likely to be accepted. 

 It must be something which can be daubed on with a brush, 

 sprinkled from a can, or readily applied by the hand. It must 

 be thorough and immediate ; and fortunately we can prescribe 

 remedies of this nature. The simplest remedy appears to 

 have been communicated to the public in Hogg's " Shepherd's 

 Guide." " I happened," says the Ettrick Shepherd, " to be 

 assisting at the sorting of sheep of the Cheviot breed, when 

 sundry of their heads were broken with flies. The shepherds 

 brought them out of the fold with the intention of smearing 



