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NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



adopted M. de Blainville's specific name, though somewhat objectionable, because 

 it is due to the first describer of an animal to retain if possible the appellation he 

 bestows on it, in preference even to a better though later name*. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of the specimen in the Zoological Museum. 



Size of the domestic sheep, and a resemblance exists to the merino breed, in the mode in 

 which the fleece hangs down on the sides. The form of the body and neck is robust, like 

 that of the common goat. Nose nearly straight. Ears pointed ; lined with long hair. The 

 horns are awl shaped, sharp pointed, and nearly erect, having but a slight curvature, and 

 inclination backwards. They are marked at the base with rings, which disappear above 

 half way up, and towards the tips they are remarkably even, smooth, and polished; their 

 surface throughout is black and shining. 



Colour. — The animal is totally white except the horns, hoofs, lips, and margins of the 

 nostrils. 



Fleece. — The body is covered with long straight hair,- considerably coarser than the wool 

 of sheep, but softer than that of the common goat. This long hair is abundant on the 

 shoulders, neck, back, and thighs ; a considerable tuft of it attached to the chin forms a 

 beard, and there is likewise much of it on the chest and lower part of the throat. The tail 

 is short, and though clothed with long hair is almost concealed by that which covers the 

 rump. Under the hair of the body there is a close coat of fine white wool. The hair on the 

 face and legs is short without wool. The legs are thick and short ; the fetlocks are short, 

 and with the hoofs are perpendicular. The latter are of a black colour, and are deeply 

 grooved on the soles. They resemble those of the common goat. The small posterior 

 hoofs do not touch the ground. 



* Mr. Ord's specific name of montana, if hereafter adopted, may be inconvenient should this animal be arranged 

 with the antelopes, because an antelope discovered on the banks of the White Nile by M. Riippell, has been figured 

 under the name of Antelope montana. 



