They are very small, and the quantity of blood drawn by their bite is so trifling that no injury could possibly follow, unless from the flies, which would be apt to attack the sheep on the smell of blood.

These are drawbacks which might be easily avoided by common precaution, and I feel thoroughly convinced that sheep-farming upon the highland pasturage would be a valuable adjunct to a coffee estate, both as productive of manure and profit.

I have heard the same opinion expressed by an experienced Australian sheep-farmer.
This might be experimented upon in the "down" country of Ouva with great hopes of success, and by a commencement upon a small scale the risk would be trifling.

Here there is an immense tract of country with a peculiar short grass in every way adapted for sheep-pasturage, and with the additional advantage of being nearly free from leopards.
Should sheep succeed on an extensive scale the advantage to the farmer and to the colony would be mutual.
The depredations of leopards among cattle are no inconsiderable causes of loss.

At Newera Ellia hardly a week passes without some casualty among the stock of different proprietors.