206 WILD TRAITS IX TAME ANIMALS. 



head, as is the custom with rams. Their com- 

 paratively light weight and their greater activity 

 induce them to adopt a different method of attack. 

 A goat when face to face with an adversary will 

 usually rear on its hind-legs and strike a down- 

 ward blow with the rasp-like front edges of his 

 horns. This doubtless explains the peculiar cor- 

 rugations upon the horns of the ibex. Such a 

 habit does not necessitate that immense strength 

 in the sinews and bones of the head and neck 

 which is possessed by the lighting ram. Still, 

 since the front of the wild goat's horns are plainly 

 constructed by nature to give and receive severe 

 blows, it is quite possible that they may be suf- 

 ficiently strong and elastic to receive the weight 

 of the animal when it falls from a moderate 

 height. 



As regards the future of the goat one can now 

 speak rather more cheerfully than would have 

 been possible before the hidden excellences of 

 his fleece were discovered. Until comparatively 

 lately the general tendency has been for the goat 

 to act merely as a kind of temporary makeshift 

 among domestic animals ; for we find that advanc- 

 ing civilisation has almost always replaced him by 

 others whose serviceable qualities have proved 



