180 
GEXUS OVIS. 
in the world, if we except the extreme poles, which 
have not some breed of this useful animal carefully 
watched and tended ; and even in those regions so 
remarkable for the want of Riiminantia and all large 
animals, they have been introduced, and are becom- 
ing of the utmost importance in the commerce of 
the colonies. In a wild state, they are all gregarious, 
watchful, defenceless, and extremely timid. They 
inhabit mountainous countries, and though possessing 
less activity than the goat, climb rocks and precipices 
with facility and speed, few hunters being able to 
come up with them if once alarmed. Their fleece, 
in their wild state, approaches nearer to hair than 
wool, or at least the wool is short, and forms the 
under covering, and is plentifully mixed with long 
and coarser hair. In the llocky Mountain sheep, 
again, the fleece has the character of the hair of the 
deer, being strong and crispy, and having the woolly 
part of the coat quite concealed, being short but 
very thick. 
In the frequent mention of the terms wool and 
hair, as partly characterizing the Goat and Sheep,, 
it may be proper to notice their distinction. In a 
very great many animals the fur is composed of two 
substances, the one long and appearing outwardly, 
the other short and thick, and occupying the part 
next the akin. The lower covering has received the 
name of wool, and the getting rid of the long portion, 
or the hairs, is termed the “ improvement of the 
fleece.” The under or woolly part possesses a qua- 
