278 The 'Book of the Goat. 



on the breed, but there is such a thing as a " milking 

 head," as it is often called, which is broad at the fore- 

 head but fine and tapering towards the muzzle, with little 

 or preferably no beard a delicate rather than a coarse 

 head, in fact. 



If there is a point on which judges are apt to give exer- 

 cise to their fancy, it is in regard to horns. There is no 

 doubt that most breeders, whether acting as judges or 

 as buyers, give preference (other points being about 

 equal) to a goat without horns; but if these orna- 

 ments, as some consider them, are present they should 

 undoubtedly be small and slender rather than coarse 

 and heavy. Sharp, pointed horns rising perpendicu- 

 larly from the head are decidedly objectionable from a 

 practical point of view, as they are unquestionably in 

 some degree dangerous. The best-shaped, in the writer's 

 opinion, are those which lie close to the head, curving 

 back like the horns in some sheep. The former are 

 generally noticeable in "Anglo-Nubians" having Indian 

 blood in their veins. 



Returning to the question of size and the remark made 

 above that, per se, it carries but little recommendation, it 

 should be here explained that no judge worthy the name 

 would think of placing a tall, leggy goat, shallow of frame 

 and with a small udder, over another, little more than half 

 its height perhaps, showing a good shape and a large 

 bag. Long legs give a gawky appearance to a goat. 

 Short legs are no real fault, provided they are fairly 

 proportionate to the body. Size is a quality affecting kids 

 and goatlings rather than full-grown goats, but as we 

 encourage it in these immature animals we cannot 

 altogether ignore it when the same animals become fully 

 developed. 



QUALITY AND CONDITION. These two points are 

 bracketed together as they so often occur concurrently. 



