LEAPING. 
591 
among the ewes; but they are now kept apart from them 
during the rutting season. A separate paddock, or small 
enclosure, is appropriated for the purpose, and to keep them 
quiet a couple of ewes are permitted to remain beside them. 
The ewes of the flock are brought to them, and they are 
only permitted to leap them once. The consequence of 
this improved method is, a ram is enabled to impregnate 
nearly double the number of ewes he would do, if allowed 
to go amongst them without any restraint, more especially a 
young ram. Formerly from sixty to eighty ewes were con¬ 
sidered as many as a ram could serve; whereas, now, from 
one hundred to one hundred and twenty are impregnated by 
a single ram. Instances have occurred where one ram has 
served seven score in a season, but this is decidedly injudi¬ 
cious. 
Much attention is required by the shepherd during the 
rutting season, to see that rams leap those ewes which are 
in season, as the ram will sometimes take a fancy for a par¬ 
ticular sheep, which probably is not in sufficient heat to re¬ 
ceive him, and will remain with her a whole day inactive, 
and will drive off such other ewes as come near him. When 
the shepherd notices a circumstance of this kind, he should 
remove the favourite ewe to a great distance from the ram ; 
that is, of course, in cases where he is not kept apart from 
the flock. 
To ascertain when the ewes have been served, it is a good 
practice to rub the breast of the ram with red keel, or other 
dry paint, which will leave a mark on those which he has 
leaped. But this is not a sure criterion, as tups frequently 
leap without accomplishing their end. 
It is of great consequence that both rams and ewes should 
be in good condition before the rutting season, which of 
course must be regulated by climate, and the necessarv 
