98 The 'Book of the Goat- 



Goats that have done much browsing are sure to have 



their front teeth more worn down than those which have 



been stall-fed, the latter using their molars more than 

 their incisors. 



Indications of Health. 



Another matter which should not be overlooked in 

 selecting a goat is its health ; nothing is more disheartening 

 than when buying an animal of any kind which you 

 imagine to be in perfect condition to find it in a dying 

 state perhaps a day or so after. I can call to mind more 

 than one occurrence of this character, and therefore as 

 there are always unscrupulous persons ready to take 

 advantage of the uninitiated, it may be useful to many 

 of my readers to know how to detect a goat in health or 

 sickness. When ill, these animals have a mournful, 

 dejected appearance, their breath is offensive, and their 

 gums of a pale colour ; their appetite is bad, and they 

 lose generally that vivacity, and sprightliness of manner 

 which are so characteristic of them when well. When 

 in good health, on the contrary, they carry their heads 

 erect, their eyes are bright and sparkling, with a cheerful 

 expression, their nose dry and nostrils moist, their breath 

 is sweet, and their mouth and gums a bright red. Another 

 sign by which their condition may be known is the vein 

 of the eye. This may be examined by raising the upper lid 

 with one thumb and pulling down the lower lid with the 

 other. If the vein in the corner of the eye be a bright red 

 colour, the goat may be considered to be in good health. 



Hotv and Where to "Buy Goats. 



The great thing towards success in goat-keeping is to 

 make a good start : that is, begin with an animal that will 

 give satisfaction. Each year sees a fresh batch of recruits 

 in the ranks of goat-keepers, some of whom, by going to work 



