3U(J IJIVISIOX I. VEKTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS L MAMMALLi. 



of tlie morintains, wlicre the liuntcrs had not penetrated, tliey cxliiLited the 

 simplicity of cliaractcr so remarkable in domestic sheep ; but where they were 

 often fired at, they were exceedingly wild, alarmed their eom[)anions on the 

 :iji[ii-oacIi of danger by a hissing noise, antl sealed the rocks with a speed 

 and agility which baffled pursuit. Their fivoritc feeding-places are grassy 

 knolls, sheltered by craggy rocks, to which they all retreat when pursued 

 by d"gs or wohes. They are accustomed to pay daily visits to certain 

 caves in the mountains that are incrusted with a saline elHoresccnce, of 

 which they are fond. The horns of the old rams attain a size so enormous, 

 and come so much forward and downward, that they elfectiiallv i)revent 

 the animal Irom feeding on level grounds. The fiesh is quite delicious 

 when in season, fur sujierior to that of any of the deer which fre(juent 

 the same ijuarter, and even exceeding in ihnor the finest English mutton." 



O. Africunus. — The Long-legged >Shecp. This African animal is 

 rcmarkaljle for the great length of its legs, and of its pendulous ears. 

 The I'ljraidii s/icrp appears to be an allied form of the former. It is dis- 

 tinguished for its black head, and docile and amiable dispositi;>n. 



O. >Sli(i/t>j)i/ii(i. — The Fat-rumped .Sheep. This very curious species 

 is, according to Pallas, raised throughout all the temperate regimis of Asia, 

 from the frontiers oi' Europe to tlidse- of China, where the hordes of 

 Kirguize Tartars lead a wandering llle, seeking fresli and fitting pastures. 

 The body of this animal towards the posteriors swells gradually with fat ; 

 liut the characteristic mark is the deposition of a solid mass of fat on the 

 rump, wliicli falls over in the place of a tail, di\ided into two hemis]>hercs, 

 which take the form of hips, with a little button of a tail in the middle, to 

 be felt with the fingers. The fatty protuberances sometimes become partially 

 loosened frum their base, and incounnodc the slux'p ; they weigli from thirty- 

 five to ibrty j)ounds. 



The Barbary Broad-tailed sheep is c\idently an allied species. It is 

 common in South Africa, and must once have been common in Northern 

 AiVica and Syria, as it is [iroliably the animal alluded to by Aristotle, when 

 he savs, "The sheep in Syria have broad, long tails, which drag on the 

 ground." It is below the middle size. The name is derived from two 

 masses of fat on each side of the inferior jiart of the tail, which often reach 

 a great weight, and are esteemed as a delicacy. A little carriage with 

 wheels is sometimes attached to bear up the tail and protect it from rub- 

 bing on the ground. 



In addition tn the above foreign species, we may mention the Astracan 

 breed, remarkable fir the fine spirally-twisted wool, and the 0. doUcliurci 

 of the Russians. This last is a handsome sheep, of a white color. The 

 tail contains twenty vertebrie, and is covered with fine, long wool, \\hich 



