- 
aA HAybridity in Animals. 
Caprine Hybrids.—The goat called the wild egagrus, which 
is found in all the Alpine regions of Europe and Asia, appears in 
every instance to be a prolific hybrid between the domestic goat 
and the local wild one of the country it inhabits, although the 
latter animal may be the ibez’, the caucasica, or any other species.* 
mixed breed has also been obtained between the chamois 
(Antilope rupicapra) and the common goat.+ 
Ovine Hybrids.—It was until lately supposed by most. zoolo- 
gists, that the domestic sheep, and the Asiatic and American Ar- 
galt, were mere varieties of one species; but they are now known 
to be distinct, and are severally designated by the names of Ovis 
musmon, O. ammon and O. pygargus. 'The common sheep, 
called in the systems, O. aries, is generally classed as a variety of 
the first named species; but recent investigations render it more 
than probable that several wild species have commingled to form 
new and very interesting information has lately been afforded us 
‘om quarter. “ For a very long time,” observes M. Chev- 
reul, ‘‘an extensive commerce has been carried on in Chili, in the 
skins of sheep with rather coarse wool, derived from across between 
the male of the common goat and the ewe, which was obtained 
as follows: a single goat was placed with six ewes, and male hy- 
brids were obtained with a hairy fleece, which was little esteemed 
for the particular purpose for which it was designed. But by 
coupling these male hybrids with ewes, the latter were fruitful, 
and their offspring bore a fine, soft fleece, which is highly valued 
in the manufacture of shabraqttes, called also pellians, in Chili. 
* Hamilton Smith, A:quide, p- 341. 
: Idem. 
Idem., p. 70.—Blyth, Proceedings of the Zoolog. Soc. of London, 1840. 
§ Chevreul, Journal des Savants, Juin, 1846, p. 357. Bi 
|| Journal des Savants, Juin, 1846, p. 357. 
