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THE COMMON GOAT*. 



SUFFICIENTLY hardy of constitution to sustain 

 itself under almost any temperature of climate, 

 the Goat, in a domestic state at least, is now found 

 in every quarter of the globe. Infinitely stronger 

 than the Sheep, it is able to support the cold, the 

 rains, snows, and storms, of the mountainous coun- 

 tries in high northern latitudes, without injury ; 

 and though it thrives sufficiently well even in the 

 neighbourhood of the torrid zone, yet it is amongst 

 the bleak mountains of temperate and cold climates 

 considered to be in greatest perfection. Sprightly 

 and active in the highest dsgree, it climbs with 

 rapidity the most rugged rocks, often ascending, 

 by a series of enormous bounds, to the summits of 

 precipices so towering and lofty as to appear in- 

 accessible to all animals except those of the fea- 

 thered tribes. On these heights the Goats are able 

 to stand, or to frisk about with perfect security; and 

 from thence they often fearlessly look down upon 

 the astonished traveller in the vales below. They 

 are so sure-footed, that it is seldom indeed they miss 



* Capra agagrus hircus. Linnceus. La chevre. Bujfon. 

 See the Synopsis, p. 58, No. 39. 



the 



