1 60 Essay on Sheep, 



" twice a year most times two, and sometimes 

 " five at a time.*' Cully gives the following 

 instance of fecundity in a Tees- Water ewe : 

 When two years old she brought four lambs, 

 then five, then two, then five, then two; the 

 first nine within eleven months. The highest 

 keeping is however necessary to cause this fer- 

 tility. 



Choice of rams. — I have already given direc- 

 tions for the choice of a ram, but as this is an 

 object of much moment in forming a flock, it 

 will be well to know the opinion of ditferent 

 agriculturalists. Columella recommends that 

 the ram be tall, with a pendant woolly belly, a 

 long tail, thick fleece, a broad forehead, twisted 

 horns (though if without horns still better), and 

 large testicles; not to be put to ewes till three 

 years old, and not after eight. — Markham. 

 " The ram large in every general part, with a 

 " long body and large belly; forehead broad, 

 ** round, and well rising; a cheerful large eye, 

 " straight short nostrils, a very small muzzle, 

 ^' by no means any horns (for the hornless are 

 *' the best breeders, and do not endanger the 

 " ewe as the horned do); a large upright neck, 

 '' somewhat bending, like the neck of a horse; 

 " a very broad back, round buttocks; a thick 

 *^ tail, and short jointed legs, small, clean, and 



