Essay 071 Sheep, 15 



shows that the sheep is more degenerate than 

 the goat. Besides that, the goat is evidently- 

 descended from the Bouquetin, which appears 

 to me to resemble the tame goat so strongly, 

 that I have not been able to remark any differ- 

 ence in their looks, in their habits, or in their 

 musky smell ; except that the Bouquetin* is 

 a larger and stronger animal than any species 

 of domestic goat that I have seen. The horns 

 also form a characteristic difference between 

 the sheep and the goat. Buffon, and all natu- 

 ralists since him, have supposed the Mouflon 

 Musmon, or what is sometimes called the 

 Argali, and which Linnaeus distinguishes by 

 the name of Ammon,-}- to form the stock from 

 which the different varieties of domestic sheep 

 have originated. Indeed, the resemblance of 

 this animal to the sheep is so striking, that 

 the Russians call it by the name of the Wild 

 Ram. But it resembles the sheep as the vigour 

 of manhood resembles the feebleness of infancy, 

 or the decrepitude of age. The one possesses 

 force, strength, activity; it can defend itself 

 against the weaker animals, and elude the pur- 

 suit of the strong; while the other can neither 

 fight or fly; but, without other defence than 



* Kircus Svlvestris aut Ibex. f Ovis Ammon; 



