22 QJJ A D R U P E D S. 



' The goat produces two at a time ; three at moft. But in warm 

 climates, though the animal degenerates, and grows lefs, it becomes 

 more fruitful, bringing three, four, or five. The goat, like the Iheep, 

 continues five months with young ; and, in fome places, bears twice 

 a year. 



The goat's milk is fweet, nourifhing, and medicinal j not fo apt to 

 curdle on the flomach as that of the cow ; and, therefore, preferable 

 for thofe of weak digeftion. The milk differs in flavour from that of 

 the c©w or the fheep ; the fhrubby paftures, and heathy mountains, 

 imparting an agreeable wildnefs to its tafte. In Ireland and Scotland, on 

 mountains almoft naked, the goat gleans a living j and fupplies the 

 hardy natives with comforts. Beds are made of its fkins ; its milk is 

 ' food i furnifhes alfo butter and cheefe ; and the flefh (efpecially of the 

 kid) is a delicacy, ranked by fome as not inferior to venifon. 



We find this animal in moft parts of the world. In the north, where 

 the pallure is coarfe and fcanty, the goat finds a fubfiflence i between 

 the tropics, the goat is adapted to the heat of the climate, and its flelh 

 improves. 



A remarkable variety of the goat is that of Natolia or Angora in 

 Syria, which has ears longer and broader than ours. The horns of the 

 male are black, ifTue horizontally on each fide the head, and are twilled 

 like a cork-fcrew. The horns of the female are Ihorter, and encircle the 

 ear fomewhat like thofe of a ram. Their colour is a dazzling white ; 

 their hair very long, thick, fine, and gloffy ; but degenerates at the 

 diftancc of a day's journey from this peculiar neighbourhood. It is 

 fold into all parts of Europe ; and is the bafis of the beautiful 

 fluffs known among us by the name of camlet. 



The Syrian goat is a fecond variety, fomewhat larger than ours, 

 with ears hanging down almoll to the ground j broad in proportion ; 

 fometimes fo troublefome, that the owners cut off one to enable 

 the animal to feed. The horns not above two inches and an half long, 

 black, and bending a little backwards ; the hair of a fox colour ; 

 under the throat are two excrefcences, like the gills of a cock : chiefly 

 kept round Aleppo for their milk. 



A third variety is the little goat of America, the fize of a kid, but 

 the hair as long as that of the ordinary breed. The horns, which do 

 not exceed a finger's length, are thick, and bend downwards fo dole 

 to the head, that they almoft enter the fkin. 



The 



