THE RAM. 



within a few pounds of the laft price. The Ewes were fold, in lots of five 

 each, from thirty to twenty guineas, which laft was the loweft price per lot. 

 The late Mr. Bakewell of Leicefterfhire, had likewife taken infinite pains in 

 improving the breed of Sheep, and thofe, bred by him, are thought to be as 

 valuable as the Lincolnshire. 



Like all other ruminating animals, Sheep have no upper cutting, or fore, 

 teeth ; but they have eight in the lower jaw : two of thefe are Shed and 

 replaced by new ones at the age of two years ; four of them at the age of 

 three years ; and at four years old the mouth is full. There are, however, 

 fome breeds in England, called by the Shepherds Leather- mouthed Cattle, 

 which do not change their teeth at all, thefe are fuppofed to Ihew the marks 

 of old age fooner than the reft. 



The Ewe goes five months with young, and generally brings one Lamb 

 at a time, though fome bring two ; and fometimes, though very rarely, three 

 and four : the firft Lamb is reckoned of inferior value, and the third is 

 always the beft. It is remarkable that the Ewe can diftinguifh its own 

 Lamb, and the Lamb its mother, even in the largeft flocks ; and, at the time 

 of fhearing, when the Ewes are fhut up in a pen from the Lambs, and 

 turned loofe one by one as they are fhorn, it is pleafmg to fee the meeting 

 between the mother and her young one : the Ewe immediately bleats, to call 

 her Lamb, which inftantly obeys the well-known voice, and returning the 

 bleat, comes Skipping to its dam ; but is ftartled at firft by her new 

 appearance, and approaches her with diffidence, till fhe has corrected the 

 fenfe of fight by thofe of fmelling and hearing, when, laying afide her 

 fears, She feizes the much-loved teat. 



The Ram will live fifteen years, and the Ewe ten ; but they feldom attain 

 to that age- 

 In purchafing Sheep, care Should be taken to buy them from a foil 

 inferior to that for which they are deftined. A good Sheep may be known 

 by the largenefs of its bones, and the length, oilinefs, and clofe twift of the 

 wool : fuch Iheep always produce the fineft fleeces, and fetch the beft price at 

 market. 



