182 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Although the goat is a distinct species, yet he will 

 couple with the sheep ; but no intermediate species 

 has been introduced between the goat and the sheep. 

 These two species are distinct, remaining constantly 

 separated, and always at the same distance from each 

 other, and have never been changed by this mixture, 

 or produced any new stock or new breed of interme- 

 diate animals. They have, at most, only produced 

 different individuals, which have no influence on the 

 unity of each primitive species, and which, on the 

 contrary, confirms the truth of their different charac- 

 teristics. 



The goat has naturally more understanding, and 

 can shift better for herself than the sheep. She comes 

 voluntarily, and is easily familiarized: she is sensible 

 of caresses, and capable of attachment : she is also 

 stronger, lighter, more agile, and less timid than the 

 sheep : she is lively, capricious, and lascivious. 



Goats are fond of straying in solitary places, of 

 climbing up steep places, of sleeping on the tops of 

 rocks, and on the brink of precipices. 



The inconstancy of this animal's nature is shewn by 

 the irregularity of her actions ; she walks, stops short, 

 runs, jumps, advances, retreats, shews, then hides her- 

 self, or flies, and this all from caprice, or without any 

 other determinate cause than her whimsical vivacity. 

 All the suppleness of the organs, all the nerves of the 

 body, are scarcely sufficient for the petulance and ra- 

 pidity of these motions, which are all natural to her. 



That these animals are naturally fond of mankind, 

 and that in uninhabited places they do not become 

 wild, the following anecdote is a striking confirmation. 

 In 1698, an English vessel having put into harbour 

 at the isle of Bonavista, two negroes presented them- 



