424 ZOOLOGY 



western Europe; the other is the large, more gracefully molded 

 Arabian horse. The hor.se of the ancient Gauls was so small 

 that it was rarely used for horseback riding, but only for draw- 

 ing chariots. Later it was much impro\'ed by crossing with 

 the Roman horses, which had much Arabian l)lood. Horses 

 range in size from great truck and draft horses of the Per- 

 cheron type to the little Shetland pony. In color they are 

 white, black, chestnut, and red, or bay, or the colors may l^e 

 mottled and dappled. The gait of the horse also varies from 

 running to pacing and trotting. 



Sheep and goats have been domesticated l^oth for their flesh 

 and for their wool or hair. Goat's milk is especially prized 

 in hospitals as an excellent food for young children and invalids, 

 and from it cheese is made. The different races of sheep are 

 cliaracterized bj^ various cjualities. Thus, while most breeds 

 are hornless, the Dorsets are horned. The merinos have very 

 abundant wool, which is of good qualitj' as well. The South- 

 downs have black faces and feet and are prized for the qual- 

 ity of their mutton. Of the goats, the two principal domesti- 

 cated varieties are the short-haired and the long-haired, or 

 Angora. The hair of the latter (mohair) is used in the manu- 

 facture of a cloth to cover furniture and buttons, and is em- 

 ployed for other purposes where great resistance to wear is 

 essential. 



Domestic rabbits depart little from the wild iype although 

 they have long l^een kept in captivity and fired for food and for 

 their hair which is used in the manufacture of felt. Both long- 

 and short-haired varieties are known. The ears of some varie- 

 ties are short, while others have ears so long (lop-ears) that 

 they drag upon the ground. Guinea-pigs occur in races that 

 vary in color and length of ears. 



