lrg, 
| 
are rather hairy. In all, the tail is very long, 
the ears only horizontal, and the prevailing co- 
lour white, with broad rufous spots. Of the 
Angola race, one of the most remarkable is the 
Zunu or goitred breed, which is low on its legs, 
the hairs close, the ears pendulous, and the tail 
reaching to the fetlocks. It is very delicate, and 
has a singular mass of fat, in the form of a high 
collar, behind the horns, and resting on the oc- 
ciput. The horns are short, slender, and turned 
inwards towards the forehead. Upon the larynx 
another mass of fat hangs like a goitre, under 
the throat; and the forehead is so prominent, 
that a deep depression occurs between the eyes. 
The ears, neck, body, and superior part of the 
tail are pale brown; the head, goitre, throat, 
legs, belly, and inflten half of the tail, white. 
Broad-tailed sheep form a class or great group, 
and comprise several varieties which inhabit far- 
distant countries, and which, while they agree in 
the character of the tail, differ from one another in 
some other particulars. They are generally of a 
medium size, the chaffron arched, the ears pen- 
dant but mobile, and the wool coarse and long, 
and hanging thick patches. The horns are 
large and directed first backwards, and then 
downwards and forwards; and they are some- 
times quadruple, and sometimes entirely want- 
ing. The tail is greatly enlarged laterally, in 
consequence of an enormous accumulation of fat 
in the cellular tissue; it is naked and flesh- 
coloured beneath; and its interior surface is 
marked by a slight longitudinal furrow. 
The Hottentot broad-tailed sheep is charac- 
teristic of Southern Africa, although it now oc- 
curs also in Madras and Bengal. It is of small 
size, and handsomely made. The tail, the end 
of which is turned up and sharp pointed, is -fur- 
nished beneath with a considerable expanse of 
fat, which is rather thick than laterally spread ; 
the wool is replaced by short soft white hair; and 
the tipsof the ears, the knees, houghs, fetlocks, and 
a spot around each eye, are fulvous. This is a 
delicate variety, almost entirely useless as sea- 
stock, as it usually perishes during the first gale 
of wind. It is one of a vast race, which, accord- 
ing to Major Smith, is spread, with various mo- 
difications, over Egypt, Barbary, the Levant, 
India, China, and Russia. 
The North African broad-tailed sheep is not 
uncommon in Barbary, and is sometimes found 
even in the island of Corsica. It has three or four 
horns, and pendulous ears; and its tail is not very 
broad. Its general colour is white, the posterior 
parts being covered with wool, and the head and 
shoulders with loose soft hair, A breed of this 
kind crossed with the Emmemas or Guinea sheep, 
was in the possession of Mr Wilding. Its entire 
covering consisted of soft silky hair, of a silvery 
whiteness. The hair of the fore and hind part 
of the neck was of great length ; and there was 
a black spot on each knee and thigh. So forci- 
bly was this animal acted upon by the colder 
SHEEP. 
climate of England, that in the month of Novem- 
ber it began to assume the soft woolly coat of 
our native breeds. 
The Astracan breed is remanbablen im its youth, 
for the beauty of its fine frizzled coat, frequently 
used in the natural state as furs. These are 
taken from the lambs, of which the mothers are 
slain a few days previous to yeaning. The 
adults are covered with longer and coarser wool, 
beneath which the black and white coating of 
the young may be detected, but not in the friz- 
zled state. 
In northern and middle Asia, another broad- | 
tailed breed occurs, remarkable for having four, 
five, and even six horns. Theears point forwards 
and downwards, the throat is wattled, the chaf- 
fron convex, and the wool coarse. This breed is 
found along the banks of the Wolga and Jen- 
nissai, and forms the flocks of the Kirguise. 
The fat-rumped sheep of Southern Russia is, 
in a sense, a broad-tailed breed, yet perhaps be- 
longs to another and peculiar race. The caudal 
vertebre are very few; and on each side of the 
tail there is a large rounded mass of fat, sepa- 
rated beneath, but united at the tail itself. This 
breed is characteristic of the Steppes of the 
south of Russia, but also occurs in Persia and 
China. The wool is coarse, frequently dark 
coloured, or nearly black; the hoofs are long; 
and the ears are pendulous. 
The fat-rumped sheep of Tartary has long pen- 
dulous ears, and a very short tail. The quality 
of the wool is good, but the colour is mixed,— 
that of the male being roan, or light brown, 
mingled with white, and that of the female black 
and white. This is probably the species figured 
by Bewick, although he states, that, instead of a 
tail,it had merely ‘a large protuberance of fat | 
behind, covering the rump. It appears to have 
either no horns at all, or very small ones. 
A variety of the fat-rumped sheep of Tartary, 
seemingly crossed with the sheep of Astracan, 
is found in the Mysore. It is hornless, with 
narrow pendulous ears and a very short clean tail; 
and the wool, very fine, is particularly curled, in 
small meshes, shaped like a cork-screw ; the eyes 
are blue, and the colour pure white. It is the 
most beautiful breed of India. The late Sir 
Joseph Banks had a specimen which came from 
the Gardens of Tippoo Sultan, at Seringapatam. — 
The long-tailed sheep, like the broad-tailed ones, 
form a class or group; but they are, as yet, ob- 
scurely known. The tail is so long as to*trail 
upon the ground; the horns are middle-sized, 
and twist spirally from the side of the head ; 
and the wool is coarse, and frequently black. 
Some breeds of this group are found in Circassia 
and the south of Russia. 
The many-horned sheep of Iceland is one of 
the most remarkable of the European breeds. 
It is a small animal; and has large irregular 
horns, varying in number from two to six, or 
even more, and not turned spirally, but simply 
