BREEDING REGISTER. 



279 



them. This particular, and, indeed, everything appertaining 

 to the subject of breeding, is most rigidly attended to by 

 German flock-masters, and is the means by which breeding 

 from too close affinities is avoided, as also for affording a 

 reference to the qualities of every individual of the flock. 



The Germans are exceedingly particular in their examina- 

 tions, beginning with the lamb when only a few months old, 

 which receives at this time a mark denoting its qualities, 

 and subsequently and before it has attained the age of one 

 year, is subjected to two more inspections, and if the results 

 correspond with the first examination, it receives a final 

 mark of approval, and is retained as a permanent member of 

 the flock. The first class is denominated " Super Elector ;" 

 the second class " Elector ;" the third class " Prima ;" the 

 fourth class " Secunda ;" the fifth class " Tertia," Few 

 among the better flocks will range as low as the last, and if 

 any individual is found to sink any farther, it is disposed of. 

 The sheep are put upon a table and held, while the exam- 

 iner with a small pair of scissors clips samples from the 

 neck, shoulders, and thighs, which are at once enveloped in 

 papers, and on the back of each is noted a number corres- 

 ponding with the ear-marks. A clerk, with pen and ink, is 

 in attendance, who notes down the texture of the staple, 

 whether short or long, round, flat, or spiral, exterior appear- 

 ance of the fleece, evenness, size, shape, &c. 



The following cut exemplifies the mode of numbering on 

 the ears, by which the age of each individual is denoted, 

 and its general qualities explained by reference to the Reg- 

 ister. 



Each slit in the lower rim of the right ear represents, 1 



do. upper do. 5 



do. lower left 100 



do. upper do. 500 



