200 



MAMMALIA. 



slate of domesticity appear to have cle.scended from the Argah. 

 M. Paiil Gervais, 'liowcver, is of opinion that the Sheep is a 

 domestic animal which has never kno-mi a wild state. 



The principal characteristics of Sheep consist in the greater 

 length of their tails, which usually hang down as low as their feet, 

 and, also, in the bony nature of their horns, which are farther apart 

 at the base, and shaped more spirally than those of the Argali. 

 Further, many breeds of Sheep, in both sexes, are entirely desti- 

 tute of horns. 



One thing is certain, that domestic Sheep have a very different 



rig. 92. — Tile lliibet .'\rgali (Caj)rovis argnlis, Gray). 



appearance from their supposed j^rogenitors. The former are pos- 

 sessed neither of the slender or graceful shape nor the nimbleness 

 of pace ^-^liich is peculiar to the v\'ild breed. The Domestic Sheep 

 is heavy in its tread, and slow in its motions. In tliem the long 

 and silkjr hair of the Argali, or Wild Sheep, has almost entirely 

 (lisappeared: whilst their wool, becoming enormously developed, 

 constitutes a thiclc fleece. The amount of intelligence they 



