6a history of quadrupeds. 



The MOUFLON, or MUSMON, 



E|* AS been clafTed both with the Sheep and the 

 IL Goat kind ; and may be confidered as (landing 

 in a middle place, and forming the link between each : 

 For it is curious to obferve, that Nature, in all her vari- 

 ations, proceeds by flow and almoft infenfible degrees, 

 fcarcely drawing a firm and diftinguifhing line between 

 any two races of animals that are eflentially different, 

 and yet, in many refpecls, nearly allied to each other. 

 In all transitions from one kind to the other, there is to 

 be found a middle race, that feems to partake of the na- 

 ture of both, and that can precifely be referred to nei- 

 ther. Thus it is hard to difcover where the Sheep kind 

 ends, or the Goat begins.— The Mufmon, therefore, 

 which is neither Sheep nor Goat, has a ftrong affinity to 

 both. Though covered with hair, it bears a ftrong fimi- 

 litude to the Ram : Its eyes are placed near the horns ; 

 and its ears are fTiorter than thofe of the Goat : Its horns 

 referable thofe of the Ram, in being of a yellow colour 

 and a triangular fhape ; they likewife bend backward be- 



