202 Transactions. — Zoology. 



(10 in. or 12 in. at times) before the animals are killed. The 

 colour is generally bluish. They are used as covers for the 

 deep saddles of those countries, sometimes three or four skins 

 being thrown over one saddle, and in the sudden and violent 

 rains which are common there these ' pellones ' are found use- 

 ful as a shelter for rider and horse." 



I think we may safely come to the conclusion that the 

 sheep and goat hybrids here mentioned were the domesticated 

 alpaca, which gave the required length of wool even in the 

 time of the Peruvian Incas. The animals are ruminant, but 

 are more allied to the camel than to the sheep, having two 

 toes on either foot, and not hoofs. 



I read that the first marketable fabric from alpaca wool 

 was made in Europe about 1832 by Benjamin Outran), of 

 Greetland, near Halifax, England. In 1839 Mr. (afterwards 

 Sir) Titus Salt was the only spinner of alpaca yarn in Brad- 

 ford. 



A further instance of mistakes made by old-time authors 

 is found by quoting Pliny, who says that in his time the 

 Corsican goat interbred with the sheep. This is easily cor- 

 rected. Here, without doubt, the wild sheep indigenous to 

 the Island of Corsica, called the " mufflon " — a true sheep — 

 is mistaken for a goat. If Pliny had not mentioned Corsica 

 his mistake would not have been so readily detected. 



Mr. Low, in " Domesticated Animals of Great Britain, 

 says, " It has been long known to shepherds, though 

 questioned by naturalists, that the progeny of the cross 

 between the sheep and goat is fertile. Breeds of this mixed 

 race are numerous in the North of Europe." Dr. A. K„ 

 Wallace remarks, " Nothing appears to be known of such 

 hydrids either in Scandinavia or in Italy." 



That such sheep hybrids may occasionally occur is not to 

 be denied. The naturalist Buffon (" Supplement," torn, hi., 

 p. 7, 1756) obtained one such hybrid in 1751 and eight in 

 1752. Sanson (" La Culture," vol. vi., p. 372, published 1865) 

 mentions one in the Vosges, France. 



I may here remark that many persons, through ignorance 

 and the remnant of some ancient superstition, consider that the 

 breeding of hybrids is incestuous, and contrary to the laws of 

 God — quite overlooking the fact that the ruler of all things 

 himself can decide whether such things shall occur or not with 

 or without the intervention of man. Possibly not one of such 

 prejudiced persons could quote the biblical command given to 

 the Jews — " Thou shalt not suffer thine animals to gender 

 with diverse kinds." The most remarkable point in this com- 

 mand appears to be in the fact that to produce hybrids is a 

 most difficult matter, and therefore hardly worthy of special 

 legislation. In any case, such a superstition in the hands of 



