1 66 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



he existed in Spain, and, according to Pliny, in 

 tlic vicinity of IVIentone. Mouflons live in herds, 

 each under the control of a ram. In the mating 

 season fierce fights tal^e place in which the)- kill 





1^ 'rnn- 



A Cirrsv.'Di.i) Ram 



Plioto J. T. Newman, llcrkliampstead 



each other. By nature they are timid and flee 

 at the slightest noise, which they hear at a \'ery 

 great distance. The)' spring among the most 

 inaccessible rocks with extraordinar)' lightness 

 and agilit)', and allow no precipice to arrest 

 their flight until they feel themseh-es absolutely 

 out of danger. The rams ha\'e huge almost cir- 

 cular horns; the ewes have none. Their hair 

 is \'ery smooth, shf)rt, and reddish brown in 

 color, but in winter it is mixed with wool. 



The mating of the Eurojiean mouflons with 

 ewes presents no difficult)-. Breeders ha\-e 

 always obtained fruitful descendants, which 

 seems to pro\-e indubitabl)- that the mouflon 

 is the true ancestor of our domestic sheep. 



III. The DoMEsric Sheep 



The difference between the domestic sheep 

 and the wild sheep is not more pronounced 

 than that between the sheep and the goat. 

 Many are the varieties scattered OA-er the globe. 

 For instance, the Somali breed of Africa is a 

 race of white sheep with \-er)- large black heads. 



pendent ears, and a thick fat tail ; they give no 

 wool fit to weave. 



The fat-tailed sliccp is a singular freak of 

 nature in the enormous de\-elopment of its tail. 

 It is found in Eg)'pt and throughout 

 Africa, also in Syria and Arabia. It 

 has hanging ears, a very stupid air, 

 and is sometimes without horns. Its 

 coat is halfway between fur and wool; 

 on the neck and breast it has long 

 hair like the manes found on wild 

 sheep. The color is a dirty white. 

 Its tail reaches to the ground and is 

 of enormous size, especiall)' in the 

 African breeds. The fat and also 

 the flesh of these animals are con- 

 sidered dainties. 



The fat-hajinchcd sliccp resemble 



the preceding with this difference, 



that the accumulation of fat is on the 



haunches and spreads only partially 



to the tail. This variety is met with 



in Persia, Tartary, and in parts of 



Africa. 



The Wallachian sheep inhabits the southeast 



of Europe and the west of Asia. It is found 



especially in Wallachia, Greece, and the island 



of Crete. It has a fine shape, and the coat, a 



mixture of hair and soft down, is thick and very 



Pkrsi.vx Fat-Tailed Sheep — Ram, Ewe, 

 AXD Lamb 



long. This animal makes a beautiful transition 

 between goats with long hair and sheep with 

 wool. The head and lower legs are very dark, 

 the former being adorned with magnificent 



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