ZOOLOGICAL POSITION AND STRUCTURE 31 



It is thus abundantly clear that sheep and goats 

 are closely related animals ; and it is a question 

 whether they might not all be included in the single 

 genus Capra. On the other hand, it is now con- 

 sidered that it helps matters to make the arui 

 sheep of North Africa and the Tibetan bharal the 

 representatives of separate genera, occupying an 

 intermediate position between typical sheep on the 

 one hand and goats on the other. 



The intimate relationship between sheep and 

 goats will be intensified if it be true that some at 

 least of the domesticated breeds of the two groups 

 will interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Dr. 

 L. J, Fitzinger^ states, for instance, that in many 

 parts of northern Russia domesticated sheep of the 

 short-tailed and frequently four-horned breed are 

 commonly crossed with goats, and that the resulting 

 progeny are in the main perfectly fertile, although 

 it is not mentioned whether this means inter se, or 

 with one or both of the parents. Although this 

 also is not stated in so many words, it would like- 

 wise appear from the context that these alleged 

 hybrids are the product of crossing male goats with 

 female sheep. They are stated to resemble their 

 dams in all respects, with the exception that the 

 wool is firmer and stiffen 



Dr. Fitzinger, as is fully mentioned later, was 

 also of opinion that many of the more goat-like 

 ^ Sitzber. Ac. Wiss. Wien, vol. xxxviii. p. 201, 1859. 



