The Descent of Man

horns of the sheep in North Wales can always
be felt, and are sometimes even an inch in
length, at birth. Youatt says ('Cattle,' 1834, p.
277), that the prominence of the frontal bone in
cattle penetrates the cutis at birth, and that the
horny matter is soon formed over it.) Our rule,
however, seems to fail in some breeds of sheep,
for instance merinos, in which the rams alone
are horned; for I cannot find on enquiry (42. I
am greatly indebted to Prof. Victor Carus for
having made enquiries for me, from the highest
authorities, with respect to the merino sheep of
Saxony. On the Guinea coast of Africa there is,
however, a breed of sheep in which, as with
merinos, the rams alone bear horns; and Mr.
Winwood Reade informs me that in one case
observed by him, a young ram, born on Feb.
10th, first shewed horns on March 6th, so that
in this instance, in conformity with rule, the
development of the horns occurred at a later
period of life than in Welsh sheep, in which
both sexes are horned.), that the horns are de-