PEEMANENT MABKS ON SHEEP. 183 



treatment, breeding, &c. In *' Sheep Husbandry in the 

 South," I recommended Von Thaer's elaborate system of 

 permanently numbering lambs, by notches on the ear. By 

 this, one notch over the left ear signifies 1 ; two notches over 

 the same, 2 ; one notch under the same, 3 ; three notches 

 under the left ear, 9 ; one notch over the right ear, 10 ; two 

 over same, 20 ; a notch under the right ear, 30 ; three'notches 

 under right ear, 90 ; a notch in end of left ear, 100 ; in the 

 end of right ear, 200 ; these added together, 300 ; the point of 

 the left ear cut square ofi", 400 ; the point of the right ear cut 

 square off, 500 ; the latter and the notch for 100 added, 600, 

 and so on. 



Von Thaer indicated the age by round holes in the ears. 

 As there could not be a mistake of ten years in the age of a 

 sheep, the holes are the same for every succeeding ten years. 

 The absence of any hole indicates the beginning of each 

 decade of years, as 1840, 1850, or 1860 ; one hole in left 

 ear, 1861; two holes in left, 1862; one hole in right, 1863; 

 one hole in right, and one in left, 1864 ; one hole in right and 

 two in left, 1865 ; two in right, 1866 ; two in the right, and 

 one in left, 1867 ; two in each, 1868 ; three in the right, 1869 ; 

 none in either, 1870.* 



I have again given this system of numbering because it 

 has proved a highly satisfactory one to some pains-taking 

 men ; but I confess I long since got tired of and abandoned 

 it. It requires considerable trouble ; and if the holes and 

 notches are not made large enough to mutilate the ear, they 

 are liable to heal up or become obscure ; and they therefore 

 require watching while healing. Even when made as small 

 as will answer, they stUl, in high numbers, cause a dis- 

 agreeable mutilation. 



There is another German system by which the different 

 numerals are made by rows of sharp, steel points inserted in 

 metallic types, as in the two upper figures on following 

 page ; and these types have dovetails which can be slid into 

 corresponding grooves {a a a a in cut on next page) in the 

 lower jaw of a pair of nippers constructed for the purpose, 

 and thus will be made ready for use. 



The inside of the ear is smeared with a thick paint made 

 of Vermillion, indigo, or gunpowder and whiskey. By means 

 of the nippers, the steel points giving the proper numbers, are 



* The proper instrument to use is a spring punch like those used hy railroad 

 conductors — cutting a hole a little less than one-fourth of an inch in diameter. James 

 Martin, 20 Beaver Street, Albany, manufactures beautiful ones of any size, to order. 



