WASHING, SHEARING AND MARKING 211 



India ink is the pigment used and when pressed 

 into these minute wounds remains there, leaving an 

 indelible black tracing. There is danger of the care- 

 less or inexperienced operator making failure with 

 this tatooing outfit, for certain things are essential. 

 The levers must be so adjusted that when closed the 

 points will prick evenly the required characters in 

 a thick sheet of paper or cardboard. If any do not 

 make their mark the instrument is out of adjust- 

 ment or the letters worn out. These points rust 

 unless kept oiled when not in use. 



Then in placing in the letters or figures one must 

 be sure that he has them in right. They are like 

 type, reversed, so that it is puzzling at first to the 

 operator to use them and it is well to test them on a 

 bit of cardboard before using them on the sheep. 

 After once the mark is in the ear there is no eras- 

 ing it. 



Then there should be used a great abundance of 

 the india ink, smearing as much on the points as 

 possible and afterward rubbing more in the ear with 

 the finger. If once the pricks are made in the ear 

 and the ink rubbed in them the deed is done and will 

 endure. 



In England there are men who make a business 

 of marking sheep with the tattoo mark. It is the 

 official marking of a number of breeds and the sec- 

 retary often attends in person to the marking. It 

 is the most desirable mark for any pure-bred sheep 

 that is to be retained as a breeder, though it is 

 hardly necessary to use this mark on stock sheep 



