COMMON GOAT. 309 



railway embankments, etc. On the Continent special 

 sheds are sometimes erected for Goats. 



293,920 is the statistical amount of Goats in Ireland 

 for 1888 ; in France there were 1,505,670 in 1889 ; and 

 2,826,827 in Spain. The importation of Goats is pro- 

 hibited into Tasmania. 



The colour, character, and size of the Goat vary con- 

 siderably. Black, white, fawn, and mottled are among 

 the predominant colours, and while some are smooth - 

 haired, others have the hair very long and coarse. A 

 few are hornless, and others, again, have long glands 

 or wattles on the neck. The horns vary considerably in 

 size ; some are quite short, others are long, and others 

 are thick, close together at the base, and branching out 

 beautifully to the length of about 2 feet. Most Goats 

 have a beard of long hair, and in some this appendage 

 grows to about 7 inches. 



Many have a growth of long shaggy hair on the hind 

 legs, and in the Levant Goat this measures as much as 

 15 inches. 



The hair is very bristly ; the new growth in the 

 summer is bright and coarse, but as the hair increases 

 in length, it becomes finer. The teats of the she-Goat 

 are long, and usually two in number. It has generally 

 two or three kids at a birth ; four is uncommon, and five 

 extremely rare. The tail is short and bristly, and the 

 ears are soft, and not very long, and are sometimes 

 lopped or pendant. The Goat, especially the male, has 

 a habit of erecting its hair when excited or disturbed. 

 The he- Goat has a strong pungent smell, probably to 

 attract the female when at a distance. 



Goats' milk is rich and nutritious, and in Germany 

 they are often kept in small stalls. In Switzerland, 

 and many other parts of the Continent, cheeses are 



