THE ANGORA GOAT. 177 
on the ears of the animals, which system I had already 
adopted with my pure Merino flocks. It is essential, 
where great care in breeding is requisite, to be able to 
distinguish individuals having noteworthy qualities, 
whether desirable or the reverse. It is not always 
possible to distinguish individuals in a flock of sheep 
or goats after being shorn. The qualities which make 
them remarkable, lie, as a rule, in their fleeces, and 
when shorn, a permanent distinguishing mark is of 
great service. Various systems have been tried to 
effect this object. With rams, a plate with the number 
engraved or stamped upon it, is sometimes inserted in 
a horn of the animal, but this plan is unsuited for 
ewes or sheep without horns. A small brass plate 
stamped with the number has also been tried, suspended 
from an ear-ring, but in practice the ring was found to 
cut the ear, either from the weight of the plate with the 
number, or from being torn off by twigs or bushes. A 
plan adopted by the late Captain Macarthur, of Cam- 
den, who was the first in Australia to appreciate 
the value of the Merino, was to have a leather strap 
with a metal number attached. This was liable to the 
objection that the buckle and strap got worn and fell 
off, and if not, it was somewhat in the way of the 
growing fleece, and also at shearing time. 
I once hit upon an invention which seemed to meet 
all the difliculties of the case ; it consisted of a pair of 
brass pincers, with numbers and letters which could be 
inserted, like type in a composing stick, to four figures. 
The letters or figures were tattoed into the inside skin of 
the ear. The outline of the letters or figures were made 
by needle points, and a tattoo mark was left, by rubbing 
Indian ink or gunpowder into the punctures. I tattooed 
