50 HISTORY OF THE GOAT. 



even that of the chamois, for, independent of the difficulty 

 and danger of the pursuit, the animals, when driven to 

 extremity, would turn on their pursuers, and, if unable to 

 pass, would attempt to butt with their powerful horns, and 

 sometimes succeed in driving their adversary over tremen- 

 dous precipices. In confinement it has been very seldom 

 kept, so that little opportunity of observing its disposition 

 has been afforded. The specimen above alluded to as kept 

 in the Parisian Menagerie, was quiel and dull, and did not 

 exhibit that appearance of gaiety and frolicking so conspi- 

 cuous in the young of both the goats and sheep. It was 

 brought up by a she-goat, and though still remaining in 

 company, appeared to exhibit no sign of attachment 

 towards its foster mother. 



The Bearded ArgalL There is an uncertainty in the 

 history of this animal. The old writers to whom we have 

 referred in the synonyms, on the authority of Major Smith, 

 states it to be a very large animal, of a dark color, maned, 

 and with lengthened hairs on the dewlap. We have 

 copied the figure, and it is described in the following 

 terms : 



" Under the general name of Mouflon, are included all 

 kinds of wild sheep; and the term is likewise used with a 

 more restricted application, to indicate particular species. 

 This animal, which is a fifth part larger than the European 

 species, has the tail about seven inches long, terminating 

 in a pencil of hairs, and the horns appear small in propor- 

 tion to the size of the body. 



"In some descriptions it is described as being very beau- 

 tiful, and bears the the name of African Mouflon; but it is 

 not yet certainly determined whether it ought to be referred 

 to the bearded goats of Pennant, the description given by 

 that author being too incomplete to enable us to speak deci- 

 sively about its specific iderttity." 



