116 GOATS. 



43. The jEgagre or Wild Goat, Capra ^Egagrus, (Plate 

 5. fig. 10.) seems to be the original stock of all the varieties of 

 our domestic goats; it is distinguished by having horns which 

 are trenchant in front and very large in the male, while they are 

 short and" sometimes entirely wanting in the female. It lives in 

 troops on the mountains of Persia, and perhaps also of the Alps. 

 The Oriental Bezoar is a concretion which is found in its intes- 

 tines. 



44. The Bouquetin, or Ikes; Capra Ibex, is another species 

 of wild goat ; the male has large horns which are square in front, 

 and marked by transverse and projecting knots ; they are sHort 

 or wanting in the female ; his colour is yellow above, white be- 

 low, and he has a black stripe upon the back. He inhabits the 

 summits of lofty mountains in the old world. 



45. The Domestic Goat, Capia Hircus, which seems to 

 have descended from the Wild Goat, or from a mixture of that 

 species and the Ibex, is found throughout Europe, and indeed, is 

 met with in almost all parts of the earth, for it is an animal that 

 costs little for maintenance, and yields large profits. It seems, 

 however, to be more fond of the mountains and steep rocks than, 

 cultivated fields. Its favourite food is the buds of young trees. 

 It is capable of enduring the greatest degree of atmospheric heat j 

 the tempest does not alarm, nor rain incommode it. 



46. The milk of the goat is rich, nourishing, and medicinal. 

 The young is called a kid, the flesh of which is as much esteemed 

 by some persons as that of a lamb. 



47. [Certain e!s%tic races furnish a most valuable down or fur. 

 Those of Thibet called Cashmere goats, are the most remarkable 

 in this respect : it is from their wool that the beautiful shawls of 

 the East are manufactured, which are so much used by the Turks, 

 and the imitation of which, for some years past, has become an 

 important branch of industry in France. The goats of Angora, 

 also, a great number of which are raised in Asia Minor, have an 

 extremely fine fleece, and those of the table land of Kirgis almost 

 rival the goats of Thibet. Unsuccessful attempts have been made 

 to introduce them into Europe. 



48. Gloves of a fine kind are made of Goat skins prepared 

 by maceration, and it is from these skins that real Morocco 



43. What is the wild Goat? What is Bezoar ? 



44. What is the Ibex ? 



45. What are the habits of the Domestic Goat? 



46. What is a Kid ? 



47. For what are Goats of Cashmere most valued ? 



48. To what purposes are Goat skins applied ? 



