DOMESTICATED MAMMALS AND THEIR USES 229 
for the more convenient carriage of this monstrous appendage. 
The nomad races of the steppes of Asia possess vast flocks of 
a related variety, in which, however, the flat tail is very short, 
and the fat is concentrated on the sides of the rump. The colour 
of the breed is black, white, or a mixture of the two, and the 
familiar “ Persian lamb” and ‘“astrachan” of commerce are the 
product of young animals of this breed. The Merino Sheep, 
originally confined to Spain but now widely distributed, is noted 
for the length and fineness of its wool. 
Fig. 1165.—Angora Goats 
The economic importance of wool may be illustrated by the 
statement that in 1902 our import (worth 420,236,000) amounted 
to 678 million pounds, and the home production to 136 million 
pounds. Of these amounts 320 million pounds were exported, while 
the remainder, z.e. 494 million pounds, was worked up for home use. 
THE Goat (Capra Hircus).—Although this animal does not 
rank so high as the sheep from the economic stand-point, it 
possesses considerable value as a source of meat, dairy products, 
and clothing. We know that it was domesticated by the Swiss 
lake-dwellers during the Stone Age in rather greater numbers 
than the sheep. In the same remote period goats, as well as 
sheep and oxen, were among the tame animals possessed by 
prehistoric man in Britain. 
