Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 08.djvu/435

LEFT SHEEP 379 SHEEP the New and the Old World, whereas the goat trihe are naturally unknown in America. It is usually regarded by nat- uralists as being not only specifically, but generically, distinguished from the goat tribe; but some authorities, on the other hand, are inclined to believe that the generic separation is founded chiefly on characters which have arisen from the of naturalists is that it is from this spe- cies the domestic breeds have been ob- tained. The bearded sheep of Africa has the hair on the lower part of the cheeks and upper jaws extremely long, so that it forms a double or divided beard. The hairs on the sides and body are short, those on the top of the neck somewhat longer, and rather erect. The whole A. Markhor. WILD SHEEP B. Blanford Sheep. C. Barbary Sheep. influential power of man. In a state of nature, the sheep is scarcely less active or energetic than the goat. The main characteristics of the four unsubdued races of sheep mentioned above are as follows: The Musmon measures about three feet and a half in length, and its height, at the highest part of the back, is about two feet six inches. The neck is large, the body thick, muscular, and of a rounded form. The horns of the male are nearly two feet long. The body is protected by a short, fine, gray- colored wool, of which the filaments are spirally twisted, and by a stiffish silky hair, sufficient to conceal the wool be- neath. It is gregarious in a state of nature, and seldom descends from the highly^elevated portions of the mountains on which it dwells. The general opinion under-parts of the neck and shoulders are covered by coarse hair. The Argali, or wild sheep of Asia, measures about three feet in height at the shoulder, and five feet in length. His horns are nearly four feet long, and placed on the summit of the head, so as to cover the occiput. They nearly touch each other in front, bending backward and laterally, and then forward and out- ward. The female is of smaller size, and her horns are nearly straight. The Ovis montana, or Rocky Mountain sheep of the United States, is larger than the largest varieties of domestic breeds. The horns of the male are of great dimen- sions. The hair in this species resembles that of a deer. The many varieties of sheep which tenant Great Britain and Ireland may be