142 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



are exposed to the most frightful dangers, to falls down terrific 

 precipices, to hunger and cold, and eveiy imaginable hardship 

 that days spent among Alpine precipices can suggest. Yet a 

 kind of fascination urges them on, although few Chamois 

 hunters escape the dangers that surround them. The skin of 

 the Chamois is used extensively by shoemakers. 

 Several genera are omitted. 



CAPRA. (Lat. a Goat.} 



Ibex, the Ibex, or Stcinbok. 



The IBEX inhabits the Alpine regions of Europe and Western 

 Asia. It is instantly recognized by its magnificent horns, 

 which curve with a bold sweep from the head almost to the 

 haunches. The horns are surrounded at regular intervals 

 with rings, and are immensely strong, serving, as some say, 

 to break the fall of the Ibex when it makes a leap from a 

 height. 



When chased it is a dangerous animal, as after it has led 



