HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. ;g 



In many parts of Ireland, and in the Highlands 

 of Scotland, their Goats form the chief possessions 

 of the inhabitants ; and, in most of the mountainous 

 parts of Europe, supply the natives with many of 

 the necessaries of life: they lie upon beds made of 

 their skins, which are soft, clean, and wholesome; 

 they live upon their milk, and oat bread ; they con- 

 vert part of it into butter, and some into cheese. 

 The flesh of the Kid is considered as a great deli- 

 cacy; and, when properly prepared, is esteemed by 

 some as little inferior to venison. 



The Goat produces generally two young at a 

 time, sometimes three, rarely four: in warmer cli- 

 mates, it is more prolific, and produces four or five 

 at once ; though the breed is found to degenerate. 

 The male is capable of propagating at one year 

 old, and the female at seven months ; but the fruits 

 of a generation so premature are generally weak 

 and defective : their best time is at the age of two 

 years, or eighteen months at least. 



The Goat is a short-lived animal, full of ardour, 

 but soon enervated. His appetite for the female is 

 excessive, so that one Buck is sufficient for one 

 hundred and fifty females. 



