Capka. MAMMALIA. PECOJIA. 25 



taking their rise lower than the occipital ridge, and the ribs being fourteen in 

 number, instead of twelve. This species has now become scarce on the Con- 

 tinent of Europe, and probably at no distant period will become extinct. 



Gen. XXIII. CAPRA. Goat.— Chin with a beard, and 

 the rough angular horns bent retrally, and approximate 

 at their base. 



37. C. Hircus. — Horns sharp, edged anteally. 



Caper, Merr. Pin. p. 1GG — Hircus, S'ibb. Scot. p. 8 — Capra domestica, 

 Ray, Quad. p. 77 — C. Hircus, Linn. Syst. i. p. 94. B, Bwch ; G, 

 Gaoither In the more remote mountainous districts. 



This animal, valuable in an economical point of view, is prized for its skin, 

 fur, flesh, and milk. It is most destructive to young plantations, and seems 

 suited to those districts which are too rugged for sheep pasture. It has two 

 teats, and goes with young four months and a half. By some, the steinbock 

 of the Alps (C. ibex) is considered as the parent stock of our domestic goat, 

 while others regard it as the Paseng of the mountains of Persia (C. aga- 

 grus). 



Gen. XXIV. OVIS. Sheep. — Chin beardless, the rough 

 angular horns bent retrally, laterally, and anteally, and 

 subremote at their origin. 



38. O. Aries. — Horns compressed and lunated. 



Aries, Merr. Pin — Ovis, Sibb. Scot. p. 8 O. domestica, Ray, Quad. 



p. 73 — O. aries, Linn. Syst. i. p. 97. W, Hwrd. 



The sheep goes with young J 50 days, and generally produces one, some- 

 times two or more, at a birth. During the first year, the young have eight 

 sharp, cutting teeth. In the second year the two middle ones drop out, and 

 have their places supplied by two permanent teeth, broader and more obtuse. 

 In the third, fourth, and fifth years, the remaining pairs of the milk-teeth are 

 shed, and the permanent ones, by which they are replaced, are proportionally 

 broad and blunt. In the eighth year the teeth begin to drop out, the two 

 middle incisors first, and two are shed in each of the three following seasons. 

 The wool differs, among individuals, in colour, fineness, and length ; and is 

 in so great demand for our manufactures, that innumerable attempts have 

 been made to establish particular breeds. Hence our short or long woolled 

 kinds, coarse and fine woolled kinds. Of the more ancient breeds, two seem 

 entitled to particular notice, viz. 



Mugg Sheep — In this variety the face and legs are white, or rarely spotted 

 with yellow, with the forehead covered with long wool. This is the native 

 breed in Scotland, to the north of the Forth and Clyde. They are of a small 

 size, and seldom weigh above 8 or 10 lb. per quarter. Some tribes have 

 horns, others are destitute of them, and they vary in the length of the tail. 

 They may be considered as the stock of the numerous modern and valuable 

 varieties which are bred in the best cultivated districts. The Shetland sheep 

 belongs to this kind. The fur consists of fine wool next the skin, with long 

 coarse hairs, — indications of an inhabitant of an arctic climate. The wool is 

 never shorn, but when about to be shed in summer it is torn from the body 

 by the hand, — a process termed rawing. 



Black-faced Sheep — The face and legs are black, and the tail short. Usual- 

 ly furnished with large horns. This species abounds in the mountainous dis- 

 tricts of the south of Scotland. 



