difcover the ground, by the great feniibility o f their
olfadory organs, to be different from that which is contiguous
; or were the ihepherds fo inclined, they would
find it no eafy matter to make them go further. The
next bufinefs is to order the folds, which are made by
fixing flakes, fattened with ropes one to the other, to prevent
their efcape, and being devoured by the wolves,
for which purpofe the dogs are ftationed without. The
ihepherds build themfelves huts with flakes and boughs,
for the railing o f which as well as for fuel, they are allowed
to lop off a branch from every tree. This law is
the caufe of fo many trees being rotten and hollow,
which grow in thofe places frequented by thefe flocks.
A little before the ewes arrive at their winter quarters,
it is the time of their eaning, at which period the
ihepherds mult be particularly careful. The barren
ones are feparated from the others, and placed in a lefs
advantageous fpot, referving the beft pafture for thofe
that are fruitful, removing them in proportion to their
forwardnefs : the laft lambs are put into the richeft pafture,
that they may improve the fooner, and acquire fuf-
ficient ftrength to perform the journey, along with the
early ones.
In March the ihepherds have four different operations
to perform with the lambs, that were eaned in the winter
; the firft is to cut off their tails, five fingers below
the
the rump for cleanlinefs; the fecond is to mark them on
the nofe with a hot iron ; next they faw off the tips o f their
horns, that they may not hurt one another in their fro-
lick s ; finally they caftrate fuch lambs as are doomed for
bell-wethers, to walk at the head o f the tribe; which is
not done by any incifion, but merely by fqueezing the
fcrotum with the hand, till the fpermatic veffels are
twifted like a rope, and decay without further danger.
In April the time comes for their return to the Montana,
which the flock expreffes with great eagernefs, by
various movements and reftlefsnefs, for which reafon the
ihepherds xnuft be very watchful, left they make their
efcape, which often happens when proper care is not taken,
and whole flocks have fometimes ftrayed two or
three leagues while the ihepherd was aileep, as on thefe
occafions they generally take the ftraighteft road to the
place which they came from.
The firft of May they begin to ihear, unlefs the weather
is unfavourable ; for the fleeces being piled one a-
bove the other, would ferment in cafe o f dampnefs, and
rot ; to avoid which, the iheep are kept in covered places
to ihear them more conveniently I for this purpofe they
have buildings that will hold twenty thoufand at a time,
which is the more neceffary, as the ewes are fo delicate,
that