THE MOUNTAIN GOAT AS WE SAW HIM in 



a sharp-edged rock of large size, or a log, passed over it, 

 grinding away skin and bone, and laying bare the bottom 

 of the nasal passage. 



It seems that when occasion demands it, the moun- 

 tain goat can swim very well, and does not hesitate to 

 do so. I have already mentioned the spring and fall 

 migrations of goats across the valley of the Flathead, as 

 observed by Mr. W. H. Wright. In making that jour- 

 ney the animals always had to swim the Flathead River. 

 Farther north, in Athabasca, Mr. Wright and Mr. 

 Shields saw the trails of goats that had crossed one of 

 the branches of Athabasca River, by swimming. Beyond 

 doubt it would be possible to learn of many instances of 

 river-swimming by goats. 



Many authors have written of the " stupidity " of the 

 mountain goat; and on that subject I may as well record 

 here the conclusions of Mr. Phillips, our guides and the 

 writer. 



First, however, let me correct, — for British Colum- 

 bia at least, — a trifling error that is rather common in 

 recipes for stalking the mountain goat. Some writers 

 say, " first get above him," etc. We say, spare yourself 

 that trouble; for it is quite unnecessary. While it is pos- 

 sible to scale all sorts of peaks, and climb above the goat, 

 he who does so (in British Columbia) will find his hunt- 

 ing seriously handicapped by impassable slopes of rock 

 that keep him away from the very points from which he 

 would fain look below. The best way to hunt goats is 

 to stalk them on the level, and shoot them on the square. 

 Mr. Phillips says that in all the goat-hunting of which 



