220 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



workable herd in New Mexico. At lambing" time the 

 ewe band is divided, not more than 1,000 being to- 

 gether. Good shepherds seldom use the corral at 

 night, since its use is almost certain to bring a 

 steady deterioration in a good flock and prevent the 

 improvement of a bad one. Instead of the corral 

 the sheep are driven at evening time near to the 

 tent of the herder and watched for a little time when 

 they finally lie down in a compact body. They are 

 then said to be "bedded down" and will remain 

 there quietly until morning unless the moon happens 

 to be very bright, or something occurs to frighten 

 them. 



It is usual to have bells upon a number of the 

 sheep. The herder in his tent close at hand hears 

 the jingle of the bells if the sheep start to move off 

 and goes around them or sends his dog. Soon the 

 habit is formed with great fixity of "bedding down" 

 regularly close to their herder and they do not often 

 try to stray without serious provocation. 



Very early in the- morning the herd awakens and 

 unless there is a storm threatening, of which they 

 have instinctive foreknowledge, they will go out to 

 graze. The shepherd, or "sheep herder" as he is 

 often called, directs them to the one way or the 

 other according to the conditions of the range, and 

 swallowing his rather hastily prepared breakfast 

 sets out after them to see that they do not scatter 

 too wide or go too far. At noon he may return to 

 his tent and prepare his midday meal and perhaps 

 the flock will lie quiescent for some hours if feed is 



