ljg^> account of fat runiped JhSep. 163 



by the absence of its cause, viz. bitter saline pastures^ 

 iSrhich do not obtain in that country. 



But it seems, that such pasture ulone wheh unaf- 

 sisted by other circumstances, cannot support the 

 extraordinary size of the uropygium ; for when the 

 southern Kirguise fheep are transported, and breed in 

 the Rufsian colonies, even in the south of Siberia, 

 where the pasture is pretty much the same as in 

 their own country, they become weak and lean, 

 ■whilst the uropygium dwindks aWay to the size re- 

 presented in table 3d letter A. 



This Dr tallas attributes to the great change in their 

 mode of life and treatment by the Rufsians, who first 

 df all keep them warm withindoors all winter, nest 

 they give them water to drink, instead of letting them 

 eat snow as at home ; and lastly, they deprive them 

 of salt : now the effects of this change of regimen is 

 still more visible in the descendents of the Kirguise 

 fheep reared in the Rufsian villages, where the uro- 

 pygium is diminifhed to the size of a man's fist, al- 

 though the little button or tail remains still of its old 

 dimensions, and never increases them, if the breed 

 is not crofsed with some of the other varietes, which 

 alone merit the name of tailed flieep ; as that of the 

 steatopyga or fat rump, scarcely deserves the appel- 

 lation. 



To be continued. 



