helps to establish coiiilitioiis uufavourable to its life. Liming of pastures has 

 been freely advocated, but it is difficult to see how this can be of substantial 

 service. Livers containing flukes should be well boiled if to be used for dogs, 

 etc.. but under all circumstances the flukes it may contain should be des- 

 troyed. Sheep from affected flocks should not be brought on to a place. When 

 liver rot is detected in a flcx-k. and it seems likely that the disease has been 

 acquired on the farm, it will probably prove most economical to kill the whole 

 flock, as it is impossible to determine what animals may not be infested. 



Plentiful supply of good dry food, to which has been added some edible 

 salt and some bitter tonic, may assist the infested sheep to recovery, while it 

 may help to expel any flukes which may happen to be in the intestines. Pas- 

 tures should not be overstocked, and high ground is preferable. 

 Sheep Tick {Mdoiihagiis ovinus. Linn.) 



It differs from the other members of the family in never jiossessing 

 wings. The head is small and sunken into the prothorax. The middle portion 

 nf the thorax is rather slender, contrasting with the development of this 

 region in the winged forms. 



It is of a reddish or gray-brown colour, aboiit one-fourth of an inch long, 

 and easily detected when present in any numbers on sheep. They never 

 migrate from the original host, except it be to attach to another animal of the 

 same species, and probably the principal movement is that which occurs after 

 sheep are sheared, when the ticks tend to migrate to lambs. On the sheep, 

 if abundant, they may cause considerable damage, indicated by lack of growth 

 or iioor condition, and when massing upon lambs they may cause great 

 damage, resulting in the death of the victims if not properly relieved. 



They are distributed over the world generally where sheep are kept, and 

 are too well known by sheep breeders to make it necessary to emphasize the 

 injury they may cause. All breeds of sheep seem alike subject to attack, but 

 I know of no record of their occurrence upon other animals. 



Ifoiicdics. 



"While the ticks may be greatly lessened in munlicrs liy the vigorous use 

 of pyrethrum — a most valuable remedy during winter — the most practical 

 plan to adopt, and one which, if thoroughly followed, will make all others 

 unnecessary, is to dip the sheeji each year after shearing. 



Of the numerous dips which are in use, and which are discussed more 

 fully in the chapter on remedies, the kerosene emulsion is recommended for 

 this form, and several of the patented dips on the market are good, while 

 tobacco dips, tar dips. etc.. may be used, if preferred. 



It is. of cour.se. desirable to use a dip that will effectually destroy not only 

 these ticks, but the two forms of lice and the scab mites, in case any of these 

 are present. A dipping tank is an essential part of the equipment for sheep- 

 raising, and its construction is described in the chapter on remedies. 



A flock once freed from the pests will not be again infested, except by the 

 introduction of infested animals ; hence, care should be taken in making 

 additions to the flock to free the newcomers from parasites. It is also well to 

 keep the sheep, for a few days after dipping, in a different inclosure from 



