52 The 'Book of the Goat. 



The Goats of Germany. 



There are a number of varieties of the genus Capra 

 mentioned by German writers as peculiar to certain 

 localities, these being named after the districts where 

 such kinds are popular, but in the illustrations given of 

 these animals there seems to be practically nothing in their 

 appearance to distinguish them from the common goat. 

 Thus we read of the Starkeriburg as a noble animal in 

 which a large infusion of Saanen blood prevails a very- 

 probable circumstance considering that this Swiss breed is 

 imported in great numbers into Germany. 



The Hartz Mountain goat is more likely to be a native 

 race, as most breeds have their origin in wild ancestors whose 

 home was in some range of mountains. The description of 

 this breed is . from a German source : ' ' The colour varies 

 from whitish-grey to reddish-brown, with a dark streak along 

 the back ; sometimes it is black or brown, or a mixture of 

 these colours. The hide is quite thick a condition due to 

 the severe climate. The hair of medium length, seldom 

 short and smooth ; the head short and broad ; eyes grey, 

 ears long and narrow, yet many have lop or so-called mouse 

 ears" a contradictory statement, it seems tome, as a 

 mouse-eared goat is certainly not lop-eared, and if it were 

 it would indicate an admixture of Eastern blood. The 

 loins and chest are said to be broad, body deep, thighs 

 rather full, legs generally straight, but in exceptional cases 

 cow -hocked. Most of these points are no indication of 

 breed, being features in different specimens of almost every 

 kind of goat. All that Crepin tells us of the " German 

 goat " is that its colour is the same as that of the Alpine, 

 namely polychromatic ; that its coat, although short, has 

 the same fringe along the back and on the thighs as is 

 noticed on many Toggenburgs, and, he might have added, 

 on most common goats. This again shows no points by 

 which a breed can be identified, Similar remarks may be 



