512 
VERTEBRATA. 
the beard long, and the horns of the male large and slightly diverging as they bend over the back. 
On the whole, it greatly resembles the Ibex of the Alps. 
Other Asiatic species of Ibex are as follows : the Tek or Takija, the Siberian Ibex, /. Sihir- 
icus ; the Sakeen or Sktn, or Himalayan Ibex, /. Himalayanus ; the African species are the 
Beden or Jaal Ibex, /. JVubiamts, found in Nubia and Upper Egypt, and also in Syria and Ara- 
bia, and held by some to be the same species as that found in Candia ; and the Walie or Valie 
Ibex, /. Valie, found in Abyssinia. 
EOCKT MOUNTAIN GOAT. 
Genus CAPRx\ : Capra. — ^Under this head we include two species. The Rocky Mountain 
Goat — Mazama or Spring-Buck — C. Americanus of Richardson, regarded as an antilope by some 
naturalists, is about the size of the Common Goat, and bears a general resemblance to it. Both 
male and female have small horns, and hair of a white color. They live in small flocks in 
the lofty heights of the great range from which they derive their name, extending from 40° to 
64° of north latitude. They feed on the plants, grasses, and mosses of the mountain slopes, 
bounding over the rocky cliffs and scaling the precipices with all the fleetness belonging to the 
race. The fleece is fine, the fore part resembling wool, and that on the back being like cotton. 
The whole is much mixed with long hairs. The flesh is hard and dry. The animal only exists 
in small numbers, is very shy, and is captured with difficulty. 
This species is placed with the Antilopes by the " English Cyclopedia of ISFatural History," and 
there forms the genus Mazama. Gervais makes it the basis of the genus Antilocapra, which 
term others bestow on the Prong-horned Antilope. 
Of the Domestic Goat, Capra cegagrus of Cuvier, C. hircus of Linnaeus, there are numerous 
breeds, presenting great variety of appearance, but all possessing certain general characteristics 
which render them useful to man. They inhabit most parts of the world, and live on the scanty 
herbage of rocky places, where no other domestic animal could find footing. They are abundant 
in most parts of Europe, and in many parts of Asia, and are peculiarly serviceable to the poor,* 
as they need neither barns for shelter nor forage for food, but gather their meals in commons and 
waste places, not denied even to poverty. Their flesh is wholesome food, and the milk is toler- 
ably nutritious. It is esteemed useful in many diseases, especially in consumption, and in the 
* In France and Italy a pair of goats will sometimes yield half the support of a family of four persons. They are 
led fortli to graze in the highway, being attended by a boy or girl. They will produce each three quarts of milk daily, 
which will sell for twenty cents. This sum, in these cheap countries, will supply the humble wants of two persons. 
