Domesticated Breeds 265 



probably most other domesticated breeds, whether still kept in captivity 

 or reverted to the wild state, as they have in many countries and islands. 

 To describe any of these breeds would be beyond the province of this 

 work, as they do not come under the title of wild animals, in the proper 

 sense of the word. Many of them have received distinct technical 

 names, although none are entitled to rank as separate species, or even 

 sub-species. The goat of the Island of Joura, near Eubcea, has been 

 regarded as truly wild and described as C. Jorcas, but I am informed by 

 Prof. E. Biichner, who has seen living specimens in Berlin, that it is 

 nothino; more than a domesticated breed run wild. A distinction between 

 most, if not all, domesticated goats and the wild races is to be found in 

 the presence of a beard on the chins of the females of the former, but this 

 is evidently an acquired character. Although, as already mentioned, at 

 least the majority of the domesticated breeds trace their ancestry to the 

 wild agcignis and hlyfhi, many appear to have been crossed with other wild 

 species, such as ibex and markhor, both of which will readily breed in 

 confinement with tame goats. In the Himalaya and Tibet it is by no 

 means uncommon to meet with domesticated goats having spiral horns of 

 the markhor type, and it is not impossible that some ot the breeds with 

 such horns may be descended from the markhor. As a rule, however, the 

 spiral in tame goats runs in the reverse direction to that obtaining in the 

 markhor, the first turn of the front ridge of the horns inclining inwards. 

 But Mr. Blanford states that he has seen exceptions, one being a Nepalese 

 head in the British Museum. 



It may be added that the Kashmir shawl-goat develops a considerable 

 amount of under-fur, or pashm, at the base of the longer hairs, which is 

 the material employed in weaving. Since similar pashm occurs in the 

 wild goat, and is wanting in the markhor, an additional argument is pre- 

 sented in favour of the origin of the domesticated breeds from the former 

 species. Mr. Schreiner, the author of an interesting little volume on 



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