THE GOAT. 187 



on the ramparts of Plymouth Citadel, and was witnessed 

 by many persons ; the other took place at Ardenglass, 

 in Ireland. In both these instances the animals looked 

 at each other for some time, as if they were considering 

 their situation, and deliberating what was best to be done 

 in the emergency. In each case one of the goats then 

 knelt down with great caution, and crouched as close as 

 it could lie, when the other walked over its back. This 

 manceuvre on the part of goats has also been recorded 

 by other writers, and it is not so incredible as it may at 

 first sight appear, if we remember that in their wild state 

 these animals must not unfrequently find themselves in 

 this predicament. 



Intellectually as well as physically the goat is 

 less specialised for mountain life than the sheep, 

 and hence he finds it easier to adapt himself to 

 the environment of the farm. That he is quick 

 at learning anything nevi^ — when he can be in- 

 duced to give his mind to it — has been shown by 

 the achievements of a most interesting troop of 

 performing goats which has been exhibited sev- 

 eral times in London. Another peculiarity of 

 the goat tribe which shows that they are less 

 specialised than the sheep is the way in which 

 certain varieties tend to resemble kindred animals 

 which are not goats. Thus there has been a 

 long controversy as to whether the " Rocky 



