ANIMALS. 59

Since, however, we are obliged to regard the different breeds of animals by the names under which they are usually designated, we are not allowed to consider the goats of Mr. Peters as the true Cash- mere. The two kinds of hair, with an under vest of delicate greyish wool, which amounts only to two or three ounces on a well-grown animal, together with horns not spiral, draw a broad line of separa- tion between these probable crosses and the far superior goats of Mr. Peters. This animal differs also from the Angora goat, to which it has a nearer approach, and from which this improved variety has probably descended. In the few specimens of the Angora, which we saw many years ago in Europe, and in the figures now extant of this variety, the ears, compared with those of the goats of Mr. Peters were smaller and less pendulous; the tail much longer; the neck covered with a mane of almost straight hair, reaching the shoulders, and uniting with the beard under the chin; the body was larger and more goat-like, and had less the appearance of a sheep than the present variety. The fleece was equally white and glossy, but more than twice as coarse. By what local name this breed of goats, owned by Mr. Peters is called in the East, remains for some future natural- ist or traveller to determine. It will probably be found among some of the varieties spoken of by Hodgson and other travellers, who have given very imperfect descriptions of the varieties existing in the hilly regions of Nepal and Thibet, but who say of them: One character they all have in common— pendent or semi-pendent ears, more or less prolonged, and in all the hair falls in long masses, some- times twisted into spiral ringlets.“*

We have adopted the usual rule among naturalists in designating animals by the common names under which they were sent, leaving it to time and further observation to determine their true place in science. Hence, we have continued the name under which it was imported, which may have been Cashmere in one of the languages of the East, as it is a general term—the name of a country which is known to possess several distinct varieties, both of the goat and sheep. At present, we can only designate them by the general term „KAsiatic Goats,“ or, to be more definite, as the““Davis Cashmere Goats,“ from the individual who introduced them.

It yet remains for us to consider the most important subject con- nected with this report. What benefit may our country be expected to derive from this breed of goats? They were introduced into South Carolina, in 1849, having been brought from Turkey, in Asia, by J. B. Davis, M. D. We examined these animals on their first arrival, and pronounced them as destined to become à valuable acquisition to our country. We have since taken advantage of many opportunities, from time to time, of ascertaining their adaptedness to our climate, and saw them recently at the farm of Mr. Peters, at Calhoun. We are much gratified in stating that the proof has far exceeded our most sanguine expectations. We will give the result of our inquiries and experience under several heads.