A D IS Q^UIS ITI O N c^c. 149 



K°. XVI. 



A Difqii'ifit'ion on wool-bearing Animals, by Dr. James 

 Akdekson, of North Brilai?t, in a letter dated 6th 

 December i 794. 



LAST fummer a Danifli Eaft-Indiaman put into 

 Leith Roads on her return home. I went on 

 board to fee what curiofities flie had. I there found 

 a veiy fine fheep, which was covered with a clofe coat 

 of thick fhort hair, very fmooth and flecked, Hke the 

 coat of a well drefl"ed horfe ; but the hairs rather ftiffer, 

 and thicker fet on the fkin ; the colour a fine nut brown. 

 This fheep I was told was bought at the ifland of Mada- 

 gafcar, and that all the flieep found at that place were 

 of the fame fort. Along with it, was another fheep 

 brought from India at the fame time, carrying a very 

 clofe fleece of good wool ; which clearly proves the in- 

 fluence oi breed in over-ruling that of climate. I mention 

 this lafl: circumftance to obviate an idea that will readily 

 occur of the influence of climate ; an idea that prepofl^elTes 

 moft men's minds, as it did my own for many years, fo 

 as to clofe their eyes againft obferving fa£ts that fall 

 often under their view. 



This fet my mind .upon a more minute inveftigation 

 of fads. I had, before that time, received from Ruffia fome 

 wool obtained from the common goat, of a foftnefs that 

 exceeds any thing of the wool kind I have ever feen, a 

 fmall fample of a fhawl made of which I fend inclofed. I 

 have fmce then feen fome Angora goats' wool produced in 

 Britain, which anfwers in every refpedt to the charac- 

 teriftics of zvool, and not of hair. I have heard of the 

 Angora rabbit alfo in Britain, but have not feen it as 

 U yetj 



