130 GENUS OVIS. 



in the world, if we except the extreme poles, which 

 have not some breed of this useful animal carefully 

 watched and tended ; and even in those regions so 

 remarkable for the want of Ruminantia and all large 

 animals, they have been introduced, and are becom- 

 ing of the utmost importance in the commerce of 

 the colonies. In a wild state, they are all gregarious, 

 watchful, defenceless, and extremely timid. They 

 inhabit mountainous countries, and though possessing 

 less activity than the goat, climb rocks and precipices 

 with facility and speed, few hunters being able to 

 come up with them if once alarmed. Their fleece, 

 in their wild state, approaches nearer to hair than 

 wool, or at least the wool is short, and forms the 

 under covering, and is plentifully mixed with long 

 and coarser hair. In the Rocky Mountain sheep, 

 again, the fleece has the character of the hair of the 

 deer, being strong and crispy, and having the woolly 

 part of the coat quite concealed, being short but 

 very thick. 



In the frequent mention of the terms wool and 

 hair, as partly characterizing the Goat and Sheep, 

 it may be proper to notice their distinction. In a 

 very great many animals the fur is composed of two 

 substances, the one long and appearing outwardly, 

 the other short and thick, and occupying the part 

 next the skin. The lower covering has received the 

 name of wool, and the getting rid of the long portion, 

 or the hairs, is termed the " improvement of the 

 fleece." The under or woolly part possesses a qua- 



