SHEH1'. 335 



bark ; large quarters; tail large and well set up; good 

 . ami -omul hoofs ; \\iih u firm, easy, regular gait; the 

 head carried hi^li. \vilh a look ol' boldness and division, \\ itli- 

 ill in an\ derive Approaching to wildni's.-. or 1'eroeity. 77/r 

 etoe should possess these characteristics generally, with such 

 modification^ as are suited to the sex. Great care should U- 

 taken to breed from such as arc most perfect in all the essen- 

 tial points of constitution, form and size; and weight, uni- 

 formity and iinriiess of fleece. The closest observation ia 

 requisite to select the best in all respects. 



In-and-in breeding should be avoided where practicable, 

 which can be done where there is a careful registry of the 

 sheep, for successive generations. Excessive use of rams 

 can never be permitted without decided injury to them and 

 their progeny. In Spain, four rams are supplied to every 

 hundred ewes. This limited number is proper enough, where 

 they undergo so much fatigue in travelling, and kept too, as 

 they are, entirely on grass. But if moderately grained 

 before and during their use, and especially if kept up, and 

 allowed to serve the ewes once only as they come in heat, 

 the number may be largely increased. A vigorous ram will 

 suffice for 35 to 40 ewes, when running with the flock ; yet 

 his powers would not be more taxed by double or even treble 

 this number, if admitted to each but once. Bread is a con- 

 venient food for the ram while running with the sheep. If 

 he is gentle, which he should always be, he will come up 

 readily and eat from the hand, without exciting the attention 

 of the other sheep which crowd, and not unfrequently injure 

 each other when grain is placed before him ; or they may 

 be stabled at night when they are fed with grain. If young 

 ewes have stolen lambs, they should be taken away from 

 them immediately after yeaning, and the nourishment sup- 

 plied to the lamb from the milk of a cow. The tax of nur- 

 sing is nearly equal to that of gestation, and farther injury 

 to the dam may be avoided by this practice. Merino ewes 

 have had the reputation of being indifferent nurses in Spain. 

 This is owing to their fatigue in travelling, and frequently to 

 scanty pasturage, instead of any constitutional deficiency. 

 It is a frequent practice there, to kill a part of the lambs and 

 put one on to two ewes. This has never been found neces- 

 sary in the countries where they have been transplanted, as 

 generous feed for the dams, has invariably been found entirely 

 adequate to their support of the young. 



