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ON THE SHEEP OF ZETLAND. 



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animal. Generally speaking, softness and fineness 

 are characteristic properties of Zetland wool, in 

 which respects, it is not surpassed even by the 

 Merino wool. 



The ewes yean in the months of April and 

 May, and a few even in March ; and they gene- 

 rally drop one lamb each. It is by no means un- 

 common for a ewe to drop two lambs, and some 

 three. In most parts of the country, the lambs 

 suck as long as their mothers permit them, which 

 is between three and four months. In those 

 districts where it is considered an object to milk 

 the ewes, the Iambs are gagged for several hours 

 to prevent them from sucking. This operation 

 is called kaveling the lambs. 



In Zetland, almost all the sheep run wild on 

 the hills, and they appear to be fond of climbing 

 like goats among the rocks, in search of rich tufts 

 of grass. Many suiter from this practice, by 

 venturing on places from which they cannot re- 

 turn. In winter, the arable land is intentionally 

 thrown open to their incursions ; but in summer 

 and autumn, every effort is practised to exclude 

 them from the inclosures. As the dikesj however, 

 are low and ill built, the sheep frequently leap 

 over them, and often seriously injure the crop ; 

 and in some parts of the country, it is the custom 

 to chace them from the neighbourhc od of the 

 farms by dogs, every night at sunset, while the 

 corn is en the ground. Although large tracts of 



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