THE COMMON GOAT. 121 



of the wild animals. The common Goat, which is 

 well known in the north of Scotland, and the most al- 

 pine counties of England and Wales, closely resembles 

 the wild ^Egagrus, and in some parts of the High- 

 lands has become nearly naturalised, and scarcely to 

 be approached except by stealth, or procured except 

 by the assistance of the gun. We recollect once 

 having a flock of this description pointed out ti> us 

 on the precipitous side of Ben Nevis, and of endea- 

 vouring to get a shot in vain ; their activity among 

 the rocks surpassed any thing we could have imagined 

 from description, and they had passed the rocky val- 

 ley long before we had reached the station pointed 

 out for an ambuscade. The goat is kept on account 

 of its milk and the flesh of its young, the former be- 

 ing often in request as a medicine for persons of weak 

 constitution or threatened with pulmonary complaints. 

 They are frequently also kept about stable-yards as 

 pets, where they become remarkably tame and at- 

 tached, throwing off all the shyness and timidity 

 which they exhibit naturally, and are ever prying 

 and inquisitive. They are favourites with us ; and 

 an old he-goat, with full grown horns and an ample 

 beard, always conveys an idea of something highly 

 picturesque. A Welsh breed, generally of a white 

 colour, is remarkable for its long hair and very large 

 horns, which are sometimes three feet in length. IB 

 Holland, they are used in very pretty equipages ft* 

 children, and we have seen two and sometimes four 

 harnessed to a child's car, obeying the rein, and ap- 



