THE COAT. iSS 



liable to sudden seizures of panic, and which, 

 when frightened, invariably loses its head ! This 

 independence and sang-froid of the goat have 

 proved of service to its masters on many occa- 

 sions. It used to be the custom in almost all 

 stables containing a number of valuable horses 

 to keep a goat, which was allowed the free run 

 of the building. The reason given was that, 

 in the case of fire, when terrified horses will 

 sometimes refuse to leave the stables, and are 

 therefore in great danger of perishing, such a 

 goat will lead the way with the most perfect 

 calmness, and, encouraged by this example, the 

 bewildered horses will follow it, and so escape 

 destruction. I do not know personally of any 

 instance where this has taken place, but the 

 commonness of the custom asserts that it has 

 probably been justified by experience. There 

 seems to be something about a goat's imper- 

 turbable character which inspires confidence and 

 respect in other animals. I have known in- 

 stances of butchers who have kept goats in 

 order to entice victims into their slaughter- 

 yards. Usually as soon as an ox smells the 

 taint of blood he becomes suspicious and refuses 

 to go farther, but if preceded by a goat he will 



