18 THE GOAT. 



and trees ; and hence they are the pest of the cultivated 

 country, destroying the hedges, the woods, and orchards of 

 the planter. In the countries of the vine, they are regarded 

 as enemies whose trespasses must be curbed by the severest 

 means. When mingled in the flock with Sheep, the Goats 

 invariably assume the guidance of their more timorous com- 

 panions, leading them from the richer pastures to the more 

 steril hills. When the Goat is kept apart from the flock, he 

 becomes attached to his protectors, familiar and inquisitive, 

 finding his way into every place, and examining whatever is 

 new to him. He is eminently social, attaching himself to 

 other animals, however different from himself. He is fre- 

 quently kept in stables, under the belief that he contributes 

 to the health of the horses. The effect, if any, is probably 

 to be ascribed to his familiar habits, it being known that 

 horses in their stalls are fond of companions to cheer their 

 solitude. The Goat is frequently attached to the little car- 

 riages of children, and appears to delight in the gay equipage, 

 and capricious commands, of the youthful charioteers. Two 

 children, in London, having escaped from their nurse, seated 

 themselves in their tiny vehicle, and set off, whip in hand, 

 along the Strand, The Goat, apparently enjoying the frolic, 

 carried them full tilt through the most crowded parts of the 

 city, nicely avoiding every obstacle, and foiling every attempt 

 of the passengers to arrest him. Having satiated himself 

 and his young masters with their morning's drive, he brought 

 them back to their home in safety. 



The female of the Goat produces, in the natural state, in 

 spring ; but when food is supplied to her, she will receive the 

 male at almost any season. She goes with young upwards 

 of twenty weeks, and is very prolific, generally producing 

 two at a birth, and often breeding twice in the year. The 

 Kids are exceedingly hardy, and the most sportive of animals. 

 The mother watches them with tender care, protecting them 

 from every assailant. She yields a large quantity of milk in 

 proportion to her size, a common produce being two quarts in 



