THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



that any help is needed at the birth of the lamb, and quietness, 

 and the absence of all disturbances by other sheep, and a watchful 

 attention until the lamb is on its feet and trying to get its milk, 

 are generally quite sufficient. What the shepherd wants to know 

 is that things are going on right, and then to let the sheep and 

 the lamb get on in their own way. 



If a lamb is chilled, a hot bath is the best thing for it, and 

 then to be wrapped in a flannel around its body. A teaspoonful of 

 hot gin and water, a little sweetened, is the common panacea of 

 the Highland shepherds for the restoration of a weak or chilled 

 lamb; and it is certainly effective. Even on those exposed moun- 

 tain pastures, it is rare that the losses of lambs reach over seven 

 per cent, even in the worst of seasons, and when the shep- 

 herd's hut is almost buried in snow. 



If a ewe refuses to care for her lamb, she should be put into a 

 small pen, in which she cannot get away from the lamb's impor- 

 tunities, and generally it will be sufficient to hold the lamb to the 

 teat and let it get a few mouthfuls of milk, after which it will 

 take care of itself, and the ewe will submit to its importunate calls 

 for nutriment. This care is more needed when twin lambs art- 

 dropped, and by due attention the majority of these will be suc- 

 cessfully reared in this way without artificial feeding. Otherwise 

 it will be wise to have a fresh cow handy, and feed the lambs that 

 need it from a nursing bottle. It has been known that more 

 thian three hundred pairs of twins have been reared in a flock 

 of six hundred ewes, through the good care and management of a 

 skillful foreman who looked attentively to this part of his 

 business. 



If a ewe is weak, there is nothing better for her than a 

 drink of warm oatmeal gruel given from a long-necked bottle, if 

 she will not drink it without this help. This may be given four 

 times a day, and in a large flock a supply of this nourishing food 

 should be kept on hand and warm all the time. It will be a 

 great help to have the weak ewes culled out before the lambing 

 time is due, and by a little extra care to get up their strength by 

 good nursing. 



One of the worst things that may happen to a ewe, heavy in 

 lamb, is to be chased by dogs. This is to be carefully prevented, 

 and the shepherd's dog itself is to be watched at this time lest he 

 might be too rough with some forward ewe. 



Unnecessary interference with a ewe in labor is unwise. Let 

 nature have its way until it is evident that help is needed, and 

 then the careful use of the forceps, or a small hand, may liberate 

 the lamb and afford a safe delivery. If the ewe is weak and 

 prostrated, a dose of the ordinary cordial used by shepherds will 

 act as a useful stimulant, after which some light liquid nutritious 

 food will restore the strength. 



There are occasions of such a presentation of the lamb that it 

 is impossible to save it, and it may be a question whether the 

 lamb or the ewe may be the most desirable to sacrifice. If the 

 lamb is likely to be of more value than the ewe, it may be saved 



