THE WOOL-BEARING ANTELOPE. 
105 
son tliinks its range of distribution may be from the 
40t]i to the 64tb or 65th degree of latitude. The 
size of the animal is about that of an ordinary sheep, 
and a resemblance exists to the Merino breed, in 
the mode in which the fleece hangs down the sides. 
The ears are pointed. The horns are awl-shaped, 
sharp, pointed, and nearly erect, having but a slight 
curvature and inclination backwards ; they are mark- 
c<l at the base with rings, which disappear about 
half-way up, and towards the tips they are remark- 
ably even, smooth and polished, their surface through- 
out black and shining. The colour of the fleece is 
entirely white : it is composed of long straight hair, 
abundant on the shoulders, back, neck, and thighs, 
coarser than the wool of sheep, but finer than that 
of goats. The flesh is in little esteem as food. The 
Indians make caps and saddles of its skin.* The 
fleece, though thought by some to be available in 
our finer manufactures, has not yet been made use 
of or introduced. 
• Richardson. 
VOL. IV. 
H 
