CHAPTER XXX. 



GOATS AND IBEXES. 



THE GENUS CAPRA — THE GOATS — THE BEZOAR GOAT OR PASENG — THE CASHMERE GOAT — THE 

 ANGORA GOAT — THE MAMBER GOAT — THE MARKHOR AND TAHIR — THE EGYPTIAN GOAT — 

 THE IBEXES — THE ALPINE IBEX — THE PYRENEAN IBEX— THE ARABIAN IBEX. 



THE last sub-family of the Bovm.-E is that named Caprin^E. It 

 contains two genera, Capra and OviBOS. The former very- 

 extensive genus has been often divided into numerous sub- 

 genera, but it is more convenient to form only two divisions, " the Goats 

 and Ibexes," and the " Sheep." 



GENUS CAPRA. 



The tiuenty-two species of Capra are equally divided between the 

 Goats and the Sheep. The line of demarcation between the groups is 

 by no means clearly drawn ; the relationship between them is close, and 

 no decisive characteristics can be described. In general, we may say 

 that the Goats have erect horns, decidedly compressed, curved back- 

 ward and outward, with a keel or ridge of horny substance in front. The 

 males have a thick beard, and are notable for a very rank odor, which is 

 not present in the male sheep. 



THE GOATS. 



The Domestic Goat (Plate XLIX) has shared the fate of our other 

 domesticated animals — we cannot tell from what wild species it is 

 derived. The Paseng, perhaps, has the best claim to be considered its 

 ancestor. The goat was very early reduced to the service of man. 

 During the Stone Age, judging by the Swiss-lake dwellings, it was more 

 common than the sheep. In the oldest Egyptian monuments the goat 



