MerifiO'Ryelaiid Breed of b,heei>. 5^1 



By breeding the rams polled, we lose thi.i great convenience of numbering ihcin 

 with Arabic figures on the horn. In knot sheep, the car is usually chosen for this 

 purpose ; but, from what I have said above, cannot be so treated, at an early age, 

 without some risk. With proper care, inarks on that part may, however, be safely 

 made, so as to speak a pretty copious language. Lasteyrie has given us a whole 

 system of nunierotage, or numeration; but experience shews that many cuts on 

 the ear are liable to fail, either from the subsequent reunion, or the accidental 

 tearing out of the parts; and, therefore, where a very nice numeration of indivi- 

 duals is required, I greatly prefer the method of Sir Joseph Banks, which consists 

 in passing through the ear a wire, to which is appended a small label of lead, 

 stamped with t'ne number desired. 



In this breed, the pitch-mark, usually employed to indicate on the wool the name 

 of the owner, should, if possible, be wholly avoided. It is difficult, however, to 

 know what to substitute. Nothing has yet been found, which will resist rain com- 

 bined with the saponaceous quality of the yolk, and afterwards dissolve in uritie or 

 alkalis. I have tried Dr. Lewis's receipt of powdered charcoal mixed with melted 

 suet, but found it ineffectual, Tiie colour was good, and it worked easily; but, 

 in common even with pitch, it lost its distinctive figure as the wool grew, and, 

 long before the time of shearing, was totally washed out. This effect was more to 

 be expected in the Merino races than in our breeds, on account of the greater pro- 

 portion of yolk which imbues their fleeces. If the sheep are marked with pitch, it 

 should be done on the upper part of one of the hinder thighs, where the wool is 

 coarsest. A mark has been by some persons proposed to be made on the forehead 

 with a red-hot iron. But, in this breed, the great quantity of wool on the forehead 

 would require that it sliould be made low down on the nose. 



vol.. V. 



