THE EUMINANT OEDEE. 259 



Plantes at Paris thrive as well as they would in their native 

 land. 



Of all foreign species the Angora Goat is the one which 

 might be most advantageously propagated in France, where it 

 appears certain to become a source of wealth to the mountainous 

 districts. It gives as much milk as the European Goat, and its 

 fleece is composed of long and fine wool, which preserves all its 

 lustre after it is dyed. This wool resembles, and is often mis- 

 taken for silk ; for it possesses the brilliancy of the latter, and 

 takes, in the hands of the dj^er, the same shades. It is superior to 

 the best wools for the fabrication of woollen velvet ; beautiful 

 light fabrics are also made from it, which are called in the trade 

 Zephyr cloths. 



Angora Goats are generally of small size, and their white coat 

 is long and twisted. 



There are other species of Goats, among which may be men- 

 tioned the Nubian Goat (C. nithiania), a specimen of which is 

 kept in the Jardin des Plantes. 



Caprovis Genus. — This family, like the Ibex, are mountain 

 animals, and are found nearly all over the globe, for they exist 

 not only in the Old World, but also in North America. 



The Argali, which is found in Asia, has two varieties — Oris 

 ammonides (Fig. 92) and Oris ammon. They are as large as a 

 Deer ; their horns bear some degree of resemblance to those of 

 our rams. 



The Mouflon {C. musimon) of Corsica and Sardinia is about 

 the size of an ordinary Sheep, but is more stoutly made. The 

 fleece is woolly, and of a greyish colour, and is hidden under its 

 long and silky hair. Its horns are large, triangular at the base, 

 and flattened towards their point, and in the female are entirely 

 wanting. These animals live in droves. 



The Kebsch (Fig. 93) is an African species, remarkable for the 

 mane which covers its neck, and for the long hair which falls 

 down over its legs, something in the form of cuffs. 



The Big Horn (C. canadensis) is the representative of this 

 family in North America. Dr. Gray considers this the same as 

 the Ammon of Siberia. 



The Sheep Genus. — According to M. Milne-Edwards, the almost 

 innumerable varieties of Sheep which are reared by Man in a 



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