370 COMMON GOAT. 



form according to various circumstances. It may 

 be observed, that the horns have generally a cur- 

 vature outwards towards the tips ; and it may be 

 added, that the animal was entirely unknown to 

 the Americans on the discovery of that continent, 

 having been introduced by the Europeans. 



The Goat (says BufFon) is superior to the 

 sheep both in sentiment and dexterity. He ap- 

 proaches man spontaneously, and is easily fami- 

 liarized. He is sensible of caresses, and capable 

 of a considerable degree of attachment. He is 

 stronger, lighter, more agile, and less timid than 

 the sheep. He is a sprightly, capricious, wander- 

 ing, wanton animal. It is with much difficulty 

 that he can be confined, and he loves to retire into 

 solitude, and to climb, stand, and even sleep, on 

 rugged and lofty eminences. He is robust and 

 easily nourished, for he eats almost every herb, 

 and is injured by very few. His bodily tempera- 

 ment, which in all animals has a great influence 

 on the natural disposition, is not essentially dif- 

 ferent from that of the sheep. These two animals, 

 whose internal organization is almost entirely 

 similar, are nourished, grow, and multiply in the 

 same manner ; and their diseases are the same, ex- 

 cepting a few, to which the Goat is not subject. 

 The Goat fears not, like the sheep, too great a 

 -degree of lieat. He cheerfully exposes himself to 

 the sun, and sleeps under his most ardent rays, 

 without being affected with the vertigo or any 

 other inconveniency. He is not afraid of rain or 

 storms ; but he appears to feel the effects of severe 



