m HISTORY OF QJJADRUPEDS. 



climbing, being made hollow underneath, with {harp 

 edges, like the in fide of a fpoon, which prevents them 

 from Aiding off the rocky eminences they frequent. 



The Goat is an animal eafily fuftained, and is chiefly 

 therefore the property of thofe who inhabit wild and un- 

 cultivated regions, where it finds an ample fupply of 

 food from the fpontaneous productions of Nature, in fi- 

 tuations inacceffible to other creatures. It delights ra- 

 ther in the heathy mountain, or the fhrubby rock, than 

 the fields cultivated by human indultry. Its favourite 

 food is the top of the boughs, or the tender bark, of 

 young trees. It bears a warm climate better than the 

 Sheep, and frequently fieeps expofed to the hotteft rays 

 of the fun. 



The milk of the Goat is fweet, nourifhing, and medi- 

 cinal, being found highly beneficial in confumptive cafes : 

 It is not fo apt to curdle upon the ftomach as that of the 

 Cow. From the lhrubs and heath on which it feeds, the 

 milk of the Goat acquires a flavour and wildnefs of tafte 

 very different from that of either the Sheep or Cow, and 

 is highly pleafing to fuch as have accuftomed themfelves 

 to its ufe: It is made into whey for thofe whofe digef- 

 tion is too weak to bear k in its primitive flare. Several 

 places in the North of England and the mountainous 

 parts of Scotland are much reforted to for the purpofe of 

 drinking the milk of the Goat ; and its effects have been 

 often falutary in vitiated and debilitated habits. 



In many parts of Ireland, and in the Highlands of 

 Scotland, their Goats make the chief poffeflions of the 

 inhabitants; and, in moft of the mountainous parts of 

 Europe, fupply the natives with many of the neceffaries 

 of life : They lie upon beds made of their {kins, which 

 are foft, clean, and wholefome; they live upon their 



