RUMINANTIA I CAVICORNIA. 1 05 



grass, and leaves, and shoots of low shrubs which such 

 localities afford. They are sure of foot, and bound along 

 the verge of dizzy heights with great rapidity, and with 

 an air of conscious security, which shows how well they 

 are adapted to the regions which they inhabit. 



The Wild Goat, C. cegragus, Gm., is found in herds on 

 the mountains of Persia, where it is called Paseng, and 

 on other mountains of the Eastern hemisphere. ' This 

 is regarded as the parent stock of all the numerous do- 

 mestic varieties. 



The Angora Goat of Asia Minor is noted for furnishing 

 the softest and most silky hair, which is largely manufac- 

 tured by the inhabitants of Angora, no less than thirteen 

 million pounds of fabrics and yarns being exported by 

 them annually. 



The Cashmere Goat of Thibet is the most celebrated 

 of all for its fine wool. This goat is covered with long 

 silky hair, under which is a delicate gray wool, about 

 three ounces of which are obtained from a single indi- 

 vidual ; and it is of this wool that the renowned Cash- 

 mere shawls are made. 



The Ibex, C. ibex, Linn., of the high mountains of the 

 Old World, is distinguished from all the preceding by its 

 large horns, square in front, and marked with transverse 

 and prominent ridges. 



The Caucasian Ibex, C. caucasica, Guldenst, is distin- 

 guished by its large triangular horns, but not square in 

 front. 



3. Bovinae, or Oxen. 



The Genus Ovibos is characterized by horns curving 

 outward and downwards, hairy muffle except between 

 the nostrils, tail very short, hoofs broad and inflexed at 

 the tips, and the hair long and pendent. 



The Musk Ox, O. moschatus, Blainville, of the Barren 

 Grounds of Arctic America, is about the size of a two- 

 s' 



