168 MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. 



a few sheep kept together will do better than many, Avhich will 

 be more particularly enforced hereafter. 



The affection of the ewe for her offspring is often ex- 

 ceedingly strong, as the following example will testify, al- 

 though rather an extraordinary instance, related by the Et- 

 trick Shepherd. 



" One of the two years while I remained on the farm at 

 Willenslee a severe blast of snow came on by night, about 

 the latter end of April, which destroyed several scores of our 

 lambs, and as we had not enough of twins and odd lambs 

 for the mothers that had lost theirs, of course we select- 

 ed the best ewes and put lambs to them. As we were 

 making the distribution, 1 requested of the master to spare 

 me a lamb for a ewe which he knew, and which was stand- 

 ing over a dead lamb, about four miles from the house. He 

 would not let me do it, but bid me to let her stand over her 

 lamb for a day or two, and perhaps a twin would be forth- 

 coming. I did so, and faithfully did she stand to her charge. 

 I visited her every morning and evening for the first eight 

 days, and never found her above two or three yards from 

 the lamb ; and often as 1 went my rounds, she eyed me long 

 ere I came near her, and kept stamping with her foot, to 

 frighten away the dog. 



" The weather grew fine and warm, and the dead lamb 

 soon decayed ; but still this affectionate and desolate crea- 

 ture kept hanging over the poor remains with an attachment 

 that seemed to be nourished by hopelessness. It often drew 

 tears from my eyes to see her hanging with such fondness 

 over a few bones, mixed with a small portion of wool. For 

 the first fortnight she never quitted the spot ; and for an- 

 other week she visited it every morning and evening, utter- 

 ing a few kindly and heart-piercing bleats ; till at length, 

 every remnant of her offspring vanished, mixing with the 

 soil, or wafted away by the winds."* 



An Important duty devolves upon the flock-master to see 

 that his sheep are regularly and plentifully salted from the 

 time they are turned to pasture till the commencement of the 

 foddering season. 



Fortunately the question, whether salt contributes to the 



* Hogg's Shepherd's Calendar. 



