HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 67 



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X 



The Common GOAT. 



HIS lively, playful, and capricious creature occu- 



pies the next ftep in the great fcale of Nature 5 

 and, though inferior to the Sheep in value, in various 

 inftances bears a ftrong affinity to that ufeful animal. 

 The Goat and the Sheep will propagate together : The 

 He-Goat copulates with the Ewe, and the Ram with the 

 She-Goat ; the offspring likewife is prolific. 



The Goat is much more hardy than the Sheep ; and 

 is, in every refpect, more fitted for a life of liberty. It 

 is not eafily confined to a flock, but chufes its own paf- 

 ture, ftraying wherever its appetite or inclination leads. 

 It chiefly delights in wild and mountainous regions, 

 climbing the loftieft rocks, and (landing fecure on the 

 verge of inacceflible and dangerous precipices, although, 

 as Ray obferves, one would hardly fuppofe that their 

 feet were adapted to fuch perilous achievements ; yet, 

 upon a nearer infpe&ion, we find that Nature has pro- 

 vided them with hoofs well calculated for the purpofe of 



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