114 IBEX. 



was not originally found in America. The colour and 

 size vary extremely, as is usual with most animals so 

 widely diffused and so long reclaimed ; but in every re- 

 gion it exercises its native propensity of climbing, and 

 appears fond of situations inaccessible to other animals. 



The goat, indeed, prefers the neglected wild and the 

 abrupt precipice to the cultivated fields of art. It is 

 playful, capricious, and extremely salacious. In warm 

 climates, the female, which goes five months with young, 

 produces three or four at a time, twice a year. 



In several parts of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, goats 

 constitute the principal property of the poor. The milk 

 is sweet, nutritive, and medicinal, and peculiarly grateful, 

 as well as serviceable, to invalids. The kid is considered, 

 even by the epicure, as a dainty ; and the flesh of the 

 old, when properly prepared, is agreeable food. The 

 skin, the hair, the horns, are all applied to beneficial 

 purposes ; and, in short, every part of this animal has 

 found its appropriate use. 



The goat was held in great veneration by the ancient 

 Egyptians ; and was never offered in pagan sacrifice, 

 because Pan was represented with the legs and feet of 

 that animal. We must except the Greeks, however, 

 by whom it was immolated on account of its mischief 

 to the vines. There are various species of this well- 

 known animal. 



THE IBEX. 



This creature, which is a native of the Carpathian and 

 Pyrenean mountains, the country of the Orisons, the 

 Rhetian Alps, and various districts of Asia, has large 

 knotted horns reclining backwards, and sometimes three 

 feet in length, a small head, full eyes, and rough hair. 

 The colour is a deep brown mixed with some hoary, and 

 the male has a dusky beard. 



During the rutting-season, the males make a horrible 

 noise ; and the females separate at the time of parturition, 



and retire to the side of some stream, in order to bring" 



* & 



