Continental Milch Goats. 57 



the other two in its very small ears. The writer referred 

 to gives the characteristics of the Murcien as follows : 

 " Hair very short, silky, and glossy, but longer over the 

 chine and thighs. Head fine, forehead straight ; ears some- 

 what heavy, inclining horizontally ; expression gentle but 

 vivacious. Body somewhat lengthy, as in all good milking 

 breeds, and well set on its legs. It is generally sought 

 after as hornless, though when horns exist they 

 are light and incline sharply to the rear of the head, 

 curving round the ears." It is further described as one 

 of the handsomest of goats. As a milker it is said to be 

 remarkable, the specimens in the possession of the writer 

 above quoted (which are only from 26in. to 2 Sin. in height 

 at the shoulders) giving easily 600 litres (130 gallons) 

 during one lactation period. 



Some Spanish goats were exhibited at the Crystal 

 Palace Show in 1876, and Mr. Bryan Hook kept at one 

 time several, but none of these animals showed any special 

 aptitude as milkers. The milk is said to be extremely 

 adaptable for butter-making, this produce being of excep- 

 tionally fine flavour. 



As regards the goat of La Mancha, Fig. 41, on 

 page 288, depicts a goat with hair of medium length, and 

 closely resembling the breed just described with the excep- 

 tion of its *short, stubby ears. Several of this breed were 

 exhibited at the Paris Goat Show in 1903, where I saw 

 them, but with the exception of the peculiar ears there 

 was nothing remarkable or very distinct about them. 



