CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 9. RUMI1SANTIA. 



509 



■tttq 



THE CAPRINA OR CAPRE^E. 



This tribe, of which the Common Goat is the familiar type, are distinguished by ascending and 

 diverging horns, in some cases of great size in the male, those of the female always being smaller ; 

 the hair is sometimes rough and sometimes silky ; that of the chin is usually long on the male, 

 and often forms a majestic beard ; the tail is short, the legs slender but strong, the body thin and 



* As there is sometimes difficulty in distinguishing the species of Caprina from those of the Ovina, the following 

 table showing the differences between the two, will be found convenient : 



GOAT. SHEEP. 



Whole structure stronger and more compact Less so. 



Limbs thicker and more rigid Feebler and more slender. 



Hoofs higher and more compact Lower and less so. 



False hoofs well developed Evanescent. 



Head smaller and finer Longer and heavier. 



Facial line straight Chaffron arched. 



Ears shorter and rounded Longer and pointed. 



Tail short, flat, nude below Longer, less depressed, and half nude only. 



Pore-legs stronger than hind Fore and hind equal. 



Croup sloped off Not so. 



Odorous Not so. 



Nose moister, with nares short and wide Less moist, longer and narrower. 



Horns of medial size, keeled, and turned upward Horns very large, not keeled, and turned to the sides. 



Hair long and unequal Short and equal. 



Back arched Back straight. . 



Bears change of climate well Bears it ill. 



Is eminently curious, capricious, and confident Is incurious, staid, and timid. 



B matic r herbl ith "" ^^^ feeding0n the peel and ° n Ur °" } Does not bark trees, and is less addicted to aromatics. 

 In fighting, rears itself on its hind-legs, and lets the weight [ In fighting, runs a tilt, adding the force of impulse to 

 of its body fall on the adversary f that of weight. 



