Preface. 



have rendered a revised edition absolutely necessary to 

 preserve the utility of the work and to render it worthy of 

 its title. During this interval the popularity of the animal 

 has greatly increased. Goat shows are now held annually 

 in London and the provinces, and a Goat Society has been 

 established under influential patronage, with the object of 

 improving the breeds and encouraging the keeping of 

 goats amongst the labouring classes. 



These circumstances have contributed further infor- 

 mation, both in respect to the varieties and management 

 of these animals. The spirit of rivalry induced by the 

 offering of prizes has caused the introduction of foreign 

 specimens, which had rarely, if ever before, been seen 

 in this country, whilst the reading of papers and discus- 

 sions on matters connected with the treatment of goats 

 at the meetings of the British Goat Society have opened 

 up a more extensive view of the subject. 



Through officiating in the capacity of judge at most 

 of the shows, and from being honorary secretary of the 

 Society referred to, I have had special opportunities for 

 improving my knowledge, on many points connected with 

 goats, and this has been further extended by ten years of 

 practical experience with a great variety of breeds and on 

 a much larger scale. This will explain any difference of 

 opinion which may be discovered in my remarks in this 

 work compared with what I have previously written, my 

 views on some points having been, for the reasons above 

 mentioned, modified or altered. 



Ih this edition all the chapters will be found con- 

 siderably enlarged, and many new ones introduced; 

 amongst others, that relating to the early history of the 

 goat. For this I am indebted to the Rev. W. Houghton, 

 M.A., F.L.S., through whose kind assistance and research 

 I am thus able to give a record of the animal from the 

 most remote period. 



