176 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA. 



India ink is the pigment used and when 

 pressed into these minute wounds remains 

 there, leaving an indelible black tracing. There 

 is danger of the careless or inexperienced 

 operator making failure with this tattooing 

 outfit, for certain things are essential. The 

 levers must be so adjusted that when closed 

 the points will prick evenly the required char- 

 acters in a thick sheet of paper or cardboard. 

 If any do not make their mark the instrument 

 is out of adjustment or the letters worn out. 

 These points rust if not kept oiled when not in 

 use. 



Then in placing in the letters or figures one 

 must be sure that he has them in right. They 

 are like type, reversed, so that it is puzzling 

 at first to the operator to use them .and it is 

 well to test them on a bit of cardboard be-' 

 fore using them on the sheep. After once the 

 mark is in the ear there is no erasing it. 



Then there should be used a great abundance 

 of the India ink, smearing as much on the 

 points as possible and afterward rubbing more 

 in the ear with the finger. If once the pricks 

 are made in the ear and the ink rubbed in then 

 the deed is done and will endure. 



In England there are men who make a busi- 

 ness of marking sheep with the tattoo mark. 

 It is the official marking of a number of breeds 

 and the Secretary often attends in person to 

 the marking. It is the most desirable mark 

 for any pure^bred sheep that is to be retained 

 as a breeder, though it is hardly necessary to 

 use this mark on stock sheep that are soon to 



