80 



Turkey of the temperate parts of America. The habits of migration, 

 also, vvhich are peculiar to many of the above-named groups, oppose 

 an obstacle to their bearing confinement as the period of migration 

 approaches : vvhile, from causes hitherto unexplained, vaiious others, 

 ęven among our indigenous species, although hardy and prolific in a 

 State of freedom, will not breed nor indeed live for any length of time 

 in a State of captivity. The Committee nevertheless are unwilling 

 to make any exceplions in their previous recommendation to intro- 

 duce the vvhole of these Aniinals. The endeavour to counteract the 

 natūrai causes that may in the outset operate against success will af- 

 ford many points of interesting inquiry ; and the very failure of 

 the attempt will supply the philosophic investigator of nature with as 

 important facts for his speculations as actual success. 



The Committee do not augur many favourable results from the at- 

 tempts to introduce such Animals as are useful for clothing. A colder 

 climate than ours seems requisite for the full development of the fur 

 in such Animals as the Sable, ChinchiUa, Lynx, Bear, &c., and of the 

 down in the Swans, Eider Ducks, &c. It is doubtful also on the other 

 hand whether a warmer climate may not be equally necessary for the 

 prodiiction of feathers among the Struthious and nearly allied Birds, 

 in such quantity and of such quality as may be useful. Still the šame 

 observation may be applied to all these species as to the preceding. 

 The trial will tend to establish a fact which, although likely to be a 

 negative one, will furnish authentic ground, hitherto \vanting, for the 

 inferences of the physiologist. Our temperate climate however seems 

 congenial to the grovvth of wool and hair. And with reference to this 

 tendency the Committee recommend the introduction of all such 

 species of Sheep and Goats, as are not natives of the British Islands, 

 or of such varieties of the indigenous species as may tend to improve 

 or vary the quality of their covering. 



The Animals hitherto known as useful for medicinai purposes are 

 few in number, appearing limited to the Beaver, which supplies the 

 antispasmodic medicine, called castor ; to the Civet, and the Mušk 

 Deer. The introduction of all these Animals is recommended by the 

 Committee, not so much in the espectation of their aftbrding any sup- 

 ply of their peculiar produce, as \vith the object of ascertaining the 

 physiological fact vvhether confinement will alter tiie nature or quan- 

 tity of that produce. 



In referring to the Animals useful for the purposes of draft, the 

 Committee are avvare that little improvement can be efl^^ected in this 

 object, beyond what has already been attained in this country. Every 

 climate has its native beast of burthen most suited to its ovvn charac- 

 ter, and no animal, however superior in general organization, could 

 supersede to advantage the use of the Reiii Deer in Lapland ; the 

 Camel in the deserts of Africa ; the Llama in the mountains of Peru ; 

 or the Horse and Ox in more temperate latitudes. On a limited 

 scale, however, the Committee recommend the introduction and train- 

 ing of Animals suited to this purpose. Some of the larger species of 

 Deer, such as the American Moose and JVapiti, and the Swedish 

 Eik, the various foreign species of Bos, all the species of Llavias, and 



