Dogs still play an important part in folklore everywhere, whether as
revenants whose intention is merely to warn or foretell, or as hell
hounds of purely malignant nature. They are represented as quick to
detect the presence of invisible spirits, and, in connection with this
aptitude for seeing into the spirit world, they are often the outward
objects through which devils and demons make their appearance, and they
have often been associated with such masters of unhallowed arts as the
great Cornelius Agrippa.
The Wild Huntsman with his train of hounds is one of the most widespread
superstitions in Europe, and in the dim mythological histories of the
early world we find many dogs of supernatural strength and courage who
give material aid to the heroes in their exploits.
The American Indian, as is well known, believed in the immortality of
the dog, and always looked forward to being reunited with this faithful
companion in the Happy Hunting-ground beyond the grave.
=Elephant.=--Though the Indian Elephant has been, and still is, used as
a beast of burden, it has never reached a completely domesticated state.
See further under Pachiderms.
=Gayal.=--Frequently domesticated, though more often found wild.
=Goat= (_Capra hircus_), “the peasant’s cow,” is found in all parts of
the globe as a domestic animal. It has a beard on its chin, and carries
sharp-edged horns, which incline towards its back. The common domestic
goat is a variety of the wild goat (_C. hircus_) which inhabits the
Taurus and other mountains of southwestern Asia. Compared with its
ancestor, the domesticated form is somewhat reduced both in general size
and as regards its horns. The domestication must have taken place at a
very remote period, and spread from the East, probably through Egypt,
westwards.
A great number of breeds now exist. A most important variety, formed
into a breed by artificial selection, is the Angora goat, where almost
the whole body is enveloped in that long, silky, white hair which is so
valuable. The Angora goat has been introduced into the United States,
Cape Colony, and Australia. The Cashmere goat, from Tibet and Bokhara,
is almost equally valuable, furnishing the white to brown hair used in
making Cashmere textiles, especially the famous Cashmere shawls. It has
been successfully acclimatized in France. The Rocky mountain goat is
about the size of an ordinary sheep, and its general appearance is not
unlike that of a sheep of the merino breed, its long, straight hair
hanging down in an abundant white fleece.
Frequently goats are found wild in mountainous countries, scrambling
among rocks and bushes; are extremely sure-footed, and display great
strength and agility in leaping. These include the Markhor, the Alpine
ibex, or Steinbock, and the Izard.
Goats are very valuable for flesh, milk, wool, and skins, particularly
in warm, dry regions. The greater part of the world’s goats are grown in
southern Europe, northern Africa, and Syria. Goat’s leather is employed
for innumerable uses, some of the chief of which are glove making,
shoemaking, and bookbinding. In the United States goats have never
attained much importance as farm animals. They have been established in
the Pacific States, however, notably in Oregon, and in Iowa and
Missouri.
=Guinea-pig.=--Frequently domesticated as pets, but more often a game
animal in the forest regions of South America.
=Horse= (_Equus_) is one of the noblest and most useful of animals. The
horse proper is characterized by the tail with long hairs from its base;
the long and flowing mane; a bare callosity on the inner surface of the
hind as well as of the fore legs; and by the head and ears being smaller
and the limbs longer than in the ass and other related species.