158 Essay on Sheep* 



many of whom make use of technical terms 

 well understood by those for whom they write, 

 but which will need explanation here. I there- 

 fore state the following definitions of those 

 most in use. 



A male lamb, after he is weaned, is called, 

 during the first year, a Hog, or Hoggit^ a Tag. 

 An ewe lamb, during the same period, is called 

 an Exve Tag, a Gimmer, In the second year 

 the male is a Shear Hog, or a two toothed Hog, 

 or Tag; the female a Thaive, a Gimmer, or 

 tivo toothed Ewe Tag. Third and fourth year 

 they are distinguished by the same names, with 

 the addition of the number of teeth they have 

 changed. The fifth year, having eight broad 

 teeth, they are cM^A full-mouthed Sheep. The 

 age of the ram is generally denoted by the 

 number of times they have been shorn; the 

 first shearing being in their second year — a 

 sheaUng — oJie shear — tivo shear, he. In the 

 north of England and in Scotland an ewe lamb, 

 after weaning, is called a Diwmont; and in the 

 west of England ram lambs are called pur- 

 lambs. Tup and ram are synonymous terms for 

 a covering ram. Crone signifies an old ewe. 



Gestation. — The period for gestation in sheep 

 IS from twenty weeks to one hundred and fifty 

 days: ewes will breed twice a year, and may 



