Book VI I. 



THE GOAT. 



1021 



Chap. VIII. 



Of the Goaty Rabbity Hare, Dormouse, Beer, and various other Animals, that are or may 

 be subjected to British Agriculture. 



6582. The goat, {Capra cegagrus, h.yjig. 691.) is a native of many mountainous parts 

 of Europe, Africa, Persia, and India; he is domestic- 691 

 ated throughout Europe, feeds on branches of 

 shrubs, on lichens, hemlock , &c. ; is seldom destitute 

 of horns, of active habits like the deer, treacherous, 

 petulant, roaming, and lascivious ; gravid four months 

 and a half, brings from one to two at a birth, and 

 lives ten or twelve years. The female will allow it- 

 self to be sucked by the young of various other 

 animals, and a foal which has lost its mother has 

 been seen thus nourished by a goat, which, in order 

 to facilitate the process, was placed on a barrel. The 

 attachment between the nurse and foal appeared 

 strong and natural : in its internal structure, it extremely resembles sheep, but is far 

 superior to them in alertness, sentiment, and intelligence. The goat approaches man 

 without difficulty, is won by kindness, and capable of attachment. The extremely un- 

 pleasant odor attending these animals, is supposed to be beneficial, and horses appear so 

 much refreshed by it, that a goat is, on this account, often kept in the stables of the great. 

 It is a singular local peculiarity, that in Angora only, the animals of the Capra, Ovis, 

 and Lepus tribe, have long soft silky hair. 



6583. The Angora goat, a native of Turkey, is chiefly valued for its exquisitely fine 

 hair down, which grows under its coarse hair, and of which the Cashmere shawls are ma- 

 nufactured. The down is obtained by gently combing them. A considerable number 

 of this breed were imported to France from Persia, in 1819, and stationed at St. Om'ers, 

 with a view to their increase, and the establishment of the shawl manufacture. The 

 kids of this flock are said to be abundantly covered with down and hair, and superior in 

 strength and appearance to indigenous French kids of the same age. It is a common 

 opinion, that the down of this goat degenerates when the animals are removed from 

 the pasturage of Angora ; but this is likely in part to arise from the neglect of cleaning 

 and washing them, which at Angora is so assiduously attended to. By a late Report of 

 M. Terneaux to the Paris Agricultural Society, the French Angoras have increased iii 

 number, and prosper equally with the native variety. 



6584. The Syrian goat (Jig. 692.) is remarkable for its pendulous ears, and is common 

 in various parts of the East. The animals of this 

 variety are driven in flocks through the Oriental towns 

 every morning and evening, and each housekeeper 

 sees drawn from them, before her door, as much milk 

 as she is in want of. 



6585. The Chamois goat, a native of Switzerland, 

 is a species of antelope, and will be afterwards 

 noticed. 



6586. IVie goats of Wales are generally white, and 

 are both stronger and larger than those of other hilly 

 countries. Their flesh is much used by the inhabit- 

 ants, and often dried and salted, and substituted for 

 bacon. The skins of the kids are much valued for 



gloves, and were formerly employed in furniture, when painted with rich colors, of 

 which they are particularly capable, and embellished with ornamental flowers, and works 

 of silver and gold. The goat may be of some advantage in rocky barren countries, 

 where nothing else can get a support for life. They will climb the steepest rocks, and 

 there browse upon briers, heath, and shrubs of various kinds, which other creatures 

 will not taste of. They will feed on grass in pastures ; but, as they love brows- 

 ing on trees much better, great care should be taken to keep them from valuable 

 plantations. 



6587. The produce of the goat, from which advantage is chiefly obtained, is the milk, which it yields in 

 large quantities, and which is accounted the best milk of all animals. They mix this and cows' milk 

 together in some parts of the kingdom, and a very valuable cheese is made from it. Besides this, the 

 kids or young goats are very fine food, and the best kinds bring forth two or three at a time, and that 

 twice a year. 



6588. Goat's hair is also valuable ; it may be sheared as theVool from sheep, and is excellent for mak- 

 ing ropes that are to be used in the water, as they will last a great while longer than those made in the 

 oimnon way. A OTt of stuff is also made of it in some places. 



