200 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



In England the British Goat Society, capricious and inquisitive, and one might say 



founded in 1879, works in this direction. At crazv for every species of adventure. It posi- 



the head of it are persons of wealth, whose tivel\- delights in perilous ascensions. At times 



object is to favor the breeding and rational it will rear and threaten you with its head 



treatment of these animals among the poorer and horns, apparently with the worst inten- 



classes. The society provides instruction on tions, whereas it is usually an invitation to 



the goat, its milk and meat, 

 hoping to remove the English 

 jjrejudice against them, as 

 well as to improve the con- 

 formation of the animals and 

 their production of milk. 



In 1902 a Belgian society 

 for the improvement of the 

 goat was formed in Brussels. 

 It has the same object as all 

 the other societies, with this 

 difference, that it not only 

 imports Swiss goats but en- 

 deavors also to improve its 

 own \'ery beautiful indigenous 

 species of the deer goat, on 

 the principle that before 

 attempting to improve a breed as to conforma- 

 tion and temperament, you should first begin 

 by cultivating a pure race. 



VI. Ch.\r.\cter of the Go.\t 

 Every one knows the gayety of young kids. 



play. The bucks, however, 

 fight violently with each 

 other ; they seem to have no 

 consciousness of the most ter- 

 rible blows. The ewes them- 

 selves are not exempt from 

 this \'ice. 



The goat is a sociable ani- 

 mal ; take away her companion 

 and she will bleat for days and 

 refuse to eat or drink. She 

 lox'cs to be caressed by man, 

 and is very jealous if atten- 

 tions are shown to a rival. 

 The bucks when trained will 

 draw their little masters by 

 the hour, if kindly treated ; 

 but if they are teased or ill-used, the\- will fre- 

 quentU' refuse positively to do their work. 

 Thev know very well whether or not they have 

 deserved punishment. Drive them out of the 

 garden, where they are forbidden to go, with 

 a whip and they will flee without uttering a 

 which prompts them to cut the most amusing sound ; but strike them without just cause and 

 and burlesque capers. The goat is naturally they will send forth lamentable cries. 



PL.WFULN'ESS 



