DOMESTIC GOATS 833 



is carefully washed and combed in order to prevent its deterioration. Some few are 

 born without horns, and it is stated that in such cases the hair is short and close. 



Of equal celebrity with the last is the Kashmir goat, which is a 

 a rather small but strongly-built variety, characterized by the presence 

 of a thick under-coat of wool beneath the long hair. The neck is short, the head 

 somewhat thick, the eyes small, and the pendent ears longer than half the length of 

 the head. The horns are long and flattened, with a sharp edge in front, and curved 

 outward and backward; their tips being inclined inward. There is considerable vari- 

 ation in color; but generally the sides of the head, the upper parts of the body, and 

 the tail are silvery or yellowish white. Some individuals are uniformly colored 

 throughout, and may be either pure white, yellow, light or dark brown, or even 

 black. Although most abundant in Tibet, the Kashmir goat extends to Bokhara, 

 and the country of the Kirghiz; while of late years it has been introduced into 

 France, Wiirtemberg, and Austria. These goats are valued for their under-wool, 

 which is combed out during the summer, and is known in Kashmir as pashm. 

 From this pashm are manufactured the Kashmir shawls, and also a very fine and 

 soft dove-colored cloth, pashmina. A certain quality of pashm is also obtained 

 from the Himalayan ibex. Enormous flocks of these goats are kept in many parts 

 of Tibet. 



The Syrian or mamber goat of Eastern Europe and Southwestern 

 Asia resembles the preceding in the length of the hair, but is distin- 

 guished from all other breeds by the extraordinary length of its pendent ears, which 

 are half as long again as the head. These goats are of large size and very tall; the 

 horns are usually present in both sexes, and curve in a semicircle; the profile of the 

 face is convex; and both sexes have a small beard. The long black hair is shaggy 

 and silky. 



The Nile or Egyptian goat is another allied breed, agreeing in size 

 with the ordinary domestic goat, but with longer legs and shorter 

 horns, and especially distinguished by the small size of the head and the extreme 

 convexity of the profile. The horns are frequently absent in both sexes, and when^ 

 present are short, thick, and crumpled; while there is generally no beard. The pend- 

 ent ears are about as long as the head, and are rounded at the tips, and flat. The 

 hair is short, and generally of a reddish-brown color, but inclining to yellow on the 

 legs. Sometimes, however, the color is slaty gray, or spotted. These goats extend 

 from the countries along the Lower Nile to Central Nubia. The Theban race of 

 this breed has the most marked convexity of profile. 



Perhaps, however, the most remarkable of all the breeds is the Su- 

 dan goat, characterized by the short horns of three or four inches in 

 length, curving at first backward and outward, and then bending forward at their 

 tips. The legs are short and strong; and the short but thick hair is generally dark 

 colored, frequently showing a mixture of black and reddish. Sometimes the gen- 

 eral dark color is relieved by white spots; but red, yellowish-brown, and perfectly 

 black specimens are not uncommon. From the chin depends a black beard reaching 

 to the chest, where it divides to spread over the shoulders and upper parts of the 

 fore-limbs. These goats are found over all the country lying between the White 

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