?. j4 c' count of the fat rutnpedjheep, -^tJ^. li 



Dr Pallas trcati likewise at the end of his thircf 



^arif ty, of the curious phenomena of hair balls, found 



in the stomach of fliesp and other animals. He be- 



tfierto been intirely ascribed to the rigour of the season. It is not 

 however impofsible, but the nature of the food they must then feed 

 on may contribute soratwhat in effecting this change. 



There are same particulars respecting the fur of animals that have 

 not attracted the learned doctor's observation in this difsertation, nor 

 that of any naturalist I have as yet met with, which I fliall here 

 beg leave to bring under the notice of the reader. 



From whatever circumstance the diversity of colour among domes- 

 tic animals arises, there seems to be certain peculiarities invariably 

 connected with some colours, that do not attend others: For ex- 

 ample the hairs of a -white horse adhere to the Ikin much more loose- 

 ly than those of a bay, or chesnut, or other dark colours. Hence 

 the clothes of the rider are much more copiously filled with the hairs 

 of a white horse than that of any other colour. 



In general white cattle have a much thinner coat of hair than 

 cattle of a black or dark brown colour. 



But the most singular and invariable peculiarity of this kind t 

 have ever obse;ved,is that of a kind of lead coloured cattle I have seen 

 ia the Highlands. These do not so niuch abound as those of darker 

 colours ; but tliey have invariably a smooth sleeked glofsy hair, very 

 much resembling the glofs of silk. I never saw one of those that 

 were not thus di^tinguifliuble, even wiiile going in the same herd 

 with caitlS of black and other coluars whoss hair were of an opaq^ue 

 dry like appearance. 



I do not recollect ever to have seen a glofsy black wool, where 

 the fleece consisted entirely of black filatncnts, nor have I everobser- 

 ved either very fine or very soft wool of that colour, though I have 

 often remarked that in certain breeds of flieep I have seen in the High- 

 lands of Scotland, that carry what we call gray, or sometimes blue 

 wool, consisting of a mixure of white and black filaments. In that 

 case the black filaments intermixed with the white have a clear bugle 

 like lustre, and great softnefs, so as to make the fleece when nearly 

 examined appear of a clear silver grey colour. 



These remarks might be much extended ; but the above may 

 serve at present tG_d;i;ct the J.tteni.;c'n of tl.e cuf-lul 'nfj^uirer to this 

 subjrct. £"»'?• 



