Account of the Taye. 107 



of the missionary Jesuits, who visited California to- 

 wards the end of the seventeenth century, inform us, 

 that they found in that country two sorts of deer, 

 which they call sheep, from their resemblance, in 

 make, to the sheep of Europe. The first sort is said 

 to be as large as a calf of one or two years old ; its 

 head is much like that of a stag, and its horns like 

 those of a ram. Both its tail and hair are speckled, 

 and shorter than a stag's. Its hoof is large, round, 

 and cleft like that of an ox. The flesh of diis animal 

 is said to be very tender and delicious. The second 

 sort differs less from the sheep of Europe. Some of 

 them are white, and others black. They are larger 

 than the common sheep, have much more wool, 

 which is very good, and easy to be spun and 

 \vrought*. 



In the History of California, by Venegas, there is 

 a figure of one of these animals, which the Monqui- 

 Indians, inhabiting that country, call Tayc'-\. This 

 fiigure, if accurately represented, seems to render it 

 certain, that the western parts of America possess a 

 native species of the genus sheep. Whether it be a 

 species known in any other parts of the world, is a 

 point which we arg not yet perfectly prepared to 

 decide. 



My learned friend. Professor Zimmermann, of 

 Brunswick (in Germany), seems to entertain no doubt, 



* Philosophical Transactions, abridged, &c. Vol. v. Part ii. 

 p. 194. 



t Noticia de la California, kc. Tomo primero, p. -i", 44. 



