1 66 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



he existed in Spain, and, according to Plin_\', in 

 the vicinity of Mentone. Mouflons Hve in herds, 

 each under the control of a ram. In the mating 

 season fierce tiL;!ns take [ilace in which they kill 



A CoTswoLH Raji 

 Photo J. T. Newman, nerkhaiiipstead 



each other. By nature they are timid and flee 

 at the slightest noise, which they hear at a very 

 great distance. They spring among the most 

 inaccessible rocks with extraordinary lightness 

 and agilit)-, and allow no precipice to arrest 

 their flight until they feel themselves absolutely 

 out of danger. The rams have huge almost cir- 

 cular horns ; the ewes have none. Their hair 

 is very smooth, short, and reddish brown in 

 color, but in winter it is mixed with wool. 



The mating of the European mouffons with 

 ewes presents no difficulty. Breeders have 

 always obtained fruitful descendants, which 

 seems to prove indubitabh' that the mouflon 

 is the true ancestor of our domestic sheep. 



III. The Domestic Sheep 



The difference between the domestic sheep 

 and the wild sheep is not more pronounced 

 than that between the sheep and the goat. 

 Many are the varieties scattered over the globe. 

 For instance, the Somali breed of Africa is a 

 race of white sheep with very large black heads, 



pendent ears, and a thick fat tail ; they give no 

 wool fit to weave. 



The fat-iailcd sheep is a singular freak of 

 nature in the enormous development of its tail. 

 It is found in Egypt and throughout 

 Africa, also in S)'ria and Arabia. It 

 has hanging ears, a very stupid air, 

 and is sometimes without horns. Its 

 coat is halfway between fur and wool ; 

 on the neck and breast it has long 

 hair like the manes found on wild 

 sheep. The color is a dirty white. 

 Its tail reaches to the ground and is 

 of enormous size, especially in the 

 African breeds. The fat and also 

 the flesh of these animals are con- 

 sidered dainties. 



The fat-Iiaunclied slieep resemble 



the preceding with this difference, 



that the accumulation of fat is on the 



haunches and spreads only partially 



to the tail. This variety is met with 



in Persia, Tartary, and in parts of 



Africa. 



The Wallacliiaii sheep inhabits the southeast 



of Europe and the west of Asia. It is found 



especially in Wallachia, Greece, and the island 



of Crete. It has a fine shape, and the coat, a 



mixture of hair and soft down, is thick and very 



Persi.ax Fat-Tailed Sheet 

 AXD Lamb 



Ram, Ewe, 



long. This animal makes a beautiful transition 

 between goats with long hair and sheep with 

 wool. The head and lower legs are very dark, 

 the former being adorned with magnificent 



