SHEEP AND GOAT KIND. 



be animals of a particular kind, or merely the 

 goat in its state of savage freedom. Were there 

 but one of these wild animals, the inquiry would 

 soon be ended, and we might readily allow it 

 for the parent stock ; but in the present case 

 there are two kinds that have almost equal pre- 

 tensions to this honour, and the claims of which 

 it has been found difficult to determine. The 

 animals in question are the Chamois and the 

 Ibex. These both bear very near approaches to 

 the goat in figure ; have horns that never shed ; 

 and, at the same time, are more different from 

 each other than from the animal in question. 

 From which of these two sources our domestic 

 goat is derived, is not easy to settle. Instead, 

 therefore, of entering into the discussion, I will 

 content myself with the result of M. BufFon's in- 

 quiries. He is of opinion that the ibex is the 

 principal source, that our domestic goat is the 

 immediate descendant, and that the chamois is 

 but a variety from that stock, a sort of collateral 

 branch of the same family. His principal reason 

 for giving the preference to the ibex, is its having 

 a more masculine figure, large horns, and a large 

 beard ; whereas the chamois wants these marks 

 of primitive strength and wildness. He supposes, 

 therefore, in their original savage state, that our 

 goat has taken after the male of the parent stock, 

 and the chamois after the female ; and that this 

 has produced a variety in these animals, even be- 

 fore they underwent human cultivation. 



However this be, the two animals in question 

 seem both well fitted for their precarious life, be- 



VOL. ir. s 



