THE BARBARY BROAD-TAILED SHEEP. 

 PLATE XVII. 



FROM the great commercial intercourse possessed 

 by the Cape of Good Hope, we might expect to find 

 a large proportion of varieties among those animals 

 which are domestic, and accordingly we find very 

 various breeds both from Europe and India, and par- 

 ticularly some of the Dutch and Flemish breeds ; but 

 the Broad or Fat-tailed, is now what is termed the 

 South African or Hottentot breed. It is below the 

 middle size. The fleece soft and short wool, and the 

 name is derived from two masses of fat on each side 

 of the inferior part of the tail, which often reach a 

 great weight, and are esteemed as a delicacy ; those 

 sheep which can grow them heaviest and largest be- 

 ing picked out and endeavoured to be continued as 

 a breed, on account of the luxury of this part ; a little 

 carriage with wheels is sometimes attached to bear 

 up the tail and protect it from rubbing on the 

 ground. The Ovis steatopyga of southern Tartary, 

 also belongs to these, but the ears are long and pen* 

 dulous, while the broad-tailed breeds of northern and 



