'British Mitch Goats.-27 



beard even in the females. The horns are large and 

 pointed, situated close to each other, and extend almost 

 perpendicularly, whilst inclining to the rear. Those of 

 the male goat especially attain sometimes an immense 

 length, a pair in my possession measuring each 3oin. 

 Besides the increase in size, they branch out more than 

 those of the female. The size and shape of these 

 appendages render both male and female formidable 

 antagonists when pugnaciously inclined,, which they not 

 infrequently are, both to each other and to persons who are 

 strangers to them, so that they are not altogether safe 

 with children. The Irish goat is occasionally a good 

 milker, though its period of lactation is usually limited to 

 about six or seven months, and the yield is comparatively 

 poor in quality. The udder is generally long and narrow, 

 with big teats. 



Large droves of Irish goats make their appearance 

 annually throughout most of the market towns in England 

 and Scotland, the herdsman, who is always a thorough 

 Hibernian, calling them " Welsh," though for what reason 

 I have never been able to discover, unless it be on account 

 of their having been landed in Wales on their arrival from 

 Ireland. 



The original goat of Wales is described in old works as 

 a large kind and mostly white. At the present day, how- 

 ever, these observations do not apply. In many points it 

 resembles the Irish goat, but is smaller and more sym- 

 metrically shaped, the head and horns being lighter and 

 more graceful. The few specimens of this breed to be 

 met with at the present day are not of much value for 

 milk; the udder and teats are usually small, and, like the 

 Irish goat, it does not remain any length of time in profit. 



Some good specimens of Welsh goats were exhibited 

 at the second Crystal Palace Show, in 1876, sent direct 

 from Wales, 



