74 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE MOUFLON, OR MUSMON. 

 (Capra Amman, Linn. Le Mouflon, Buif.) 



HAS been classed both with the Sheep and the 

 Goat kind, and may be considered as standing in a 

 middle place, and forming the link between each; 

 for it is curious to observe, that Nature, in all her 

 variations, proceeds by slow and almost insensible 

 degrees, scarcely drawing a firm and distinguishing 

 line between any two races of animals that are 

 essentially different, and yet, in many respects, 

 nearly allied to each other. In all transitions from 

 one kind to the other, there is to be found a middle 

 race, that seems to partake of the nature of both, 

 and that can precisely be referred to neither. Thus 

 it is hard to discover where the Sheep kind ends, 

 or the Goat begins. The Musmon, therefore, which 

 is neither Sheep nor Goat, has a strong affinity to 

 both. Though covered with hair, it bears a strong 

 similitude to the Ram : its eyes are placed near the 

 horns; and its ears are shorter than those of the 

 Goat: its horns resemble those of the Ram, in 



