THE ANGORA GOAT. 181 
particular strain of blood in the progeny of any 
remarkable male or female. Along with the numbering 
a register must be kept. This should have columns 
for the number of sire and dam, and for the qualities of 
each individual, as a guide to selection. The leading 
qualities may be those for which the breed is valued, as 
for instance, density, length of staple, lustre or silki- 
ness, weight of fleece, size, form, &c. &c. The relative 
proportion of each quality may be expressed by 
numbers, ranging from one to five, the average or 
medium proportion of each quality being expressed by 
three. 
The ears of the Angora do not appear as shown in 
the woodcuts. The animal is lop-eared, this peculiarity 
being a proof of its long domestication ; the muscles 
which are called into play in erecting the ear having 
become comparatively powerless by a lengthened dis- 
use. The ears of the Angora vary very much in size 
in different individuals, being very small in some, as 
occurs in what are called "mouse-eared" sheep, and 
varying through all the intermediate gradations up to 
a very large size. There is also a kind of suture, or 
keel-like seam, which runs up the centre of the ear of 
many of them. Some breeds of goats have ears 19 
inches in length and 4f in breadth. 
I am aware that at least one eminent breeder of 
stock in this colony is of opinion that selection amongst 
pure-bred stock is of little or no benefit, but the 
practical experience of all great breeders, from the days 
of Jacob down to the present time, testifies strongly in 
favour of its value. In skilful hands, it is the magician's 
wand which brings to light new forms of animal and' 
vegetable life. A Bakewell gives us by its aid a 
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