T H E L A M B I X G S E A S O N. 185 



^ambing; season is most dangerous, for there is more abundant keep, 

 and more tendency to iuflanimalion. 



The datting of the ewes is a very useful practice now. They are 

 thrown, and a portion of the wool is removed from their tails and 

 udders. The sticking together of the wool from the purging to which 

 the ewe is often siJbject in the early part of the spring, when the grass 

 is fresh, has lost many a lamb. When the udders are thus cleaned, 

 the laniber will more easily perceive the stain on the part, which, and 

 which alone, will sometimes tell him whether the ewe has yeaned: 

 for it is no uncommon thing for a young ewe to desert her lamb, and 

 be found grazing with the rest of the flock as unconcernedly as if no- 

 thing had happened. 



An experienced lamber will almost always tell when the ewe is 

 ah'- xi to yean. If he finds her soon afterwards taken with labour 

 pains, and they continue to succeed each other regularly, and she 

 remains lying down, he will take great care not to disturb her; but 

 if a couple of hours pass, and the lamb is not produced, he carefully 

 examines her. If the nose and the tips of the toes have presented 

 themselves, and the lamb seems to be in a proper position, but the 

 head is large, or the passage is narrow, he leaves her again for an- 

 other hour; but if there is evidentl}' a false presentation, he introduces 

 one or tw^o fingers, or his hand, well guarded with oil, puts the young 

 one in the proper position, and nature speedily effects the rest. 



The principal art of the lamber is to know when he should inter- 

 fere. In every case of false presentation his help should be ready 

 and immediate ; but otherwise he should very rarely meddle with the 

 ewe, except the mother is nearly exhausted, or the life of the young 

 one appears to be in danger. One moment's observation will discovei 

 the state of the mother; and the degree of protrusion of the tongue 

 of the young one, and its colour, will not often deceive with regard 

 to him. When the tongue hangs far from the mouth, and is getting 

 livid or black, it is hio-h time for the lamber to interfere. 



The lamber should use as little violence as possible ; but then ha 

 should recollect that the ewe will often bear a great deal of force be- 

 ing applied without the slightest injury to her, and sometimes with 

 no great dano-er to the little one. The exhausted state of the one or 

 the other will regulate the deoree of force. W hen there is much ex- 

 haustion, no time is to be lost, and some strength should be applied 

 in the extrication of the lamb. 



The state of the weather, too, will somewhat regulate this. In 

 cold weather more time may be allowed. The process of |)arturition 

 is then slower. In warm weather there is more tendency to fever, 

 and the ewe should not be suffered to exhaust herself too much. 



Unnatural presentations are often very awkward things to have to 

 do with. The ewe should be driven into the pound, and after having 

 rested a few minutes, some of the fingers, or the hand, if it is small, 

 should be introduced into the vagina. If only one leg presents, and 

 tlie shoulder tlsus forms an obstruction, the other leg will generally 

 lb* 



