FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



males, 66 inches; tail vertebrae, 6.5 inches; hind foot, 13,5 

 inches; height at shoulder, 41 inches; weight 150 to 300 

 pounds, or even more in rare cases; average weight probably 

 about 200 pounds. Horns of old males reach 10 to 12 inches 

 in length. 



Geographical Distribution.^ — Rocky Mountains and coast 

 ranges from Alaska south to Montana and Idaho. 



Food. — Foliage of mountain plants; moss, lichens, grass, 

 twigs, and brush. 



Enemies. — Cougar and Golden Eagle, and on occasion 

 Bears and Wolves. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Oreamnos 



Cascade Mountain Goat. — Oreamnos americanus americanus 

 (Blainville). 

 As described above. Found in the Cascade Mountains of 

 Washington, and possibly south into Oregon where formerly 

 they occurred in some numbers. 



Columbian Motintain Goat. — Oreamnos americanus columhicB 

 HoUister. 

 Resembling typical americanus, but larger and with narrow 

 skull. Height at shoulder, male, 43 inches. Found in 

 northern British Columbia; type taken in the Shesley 

 Mountains. 



Montana Mountain Goat. — Oreamnos americanus missoulcB 

 (Allen). 

 Like typical americanus in external characters, but smaller 

 (smallest of the forms) and skull narrow. Found in 

 Montana and Idaho. 



Alaska Mountain Goat. — Oreamnos kennedyi Elliot. 



Probably a race of americanus, but described as a full species 

 and so listed by Miller in his North American Recent Mam- 

 mals. Resembling americanus, but horns more flaring and 

 widespread. Found in the mountains at the mouth of 

 Copper River, Alaska. 



The animal which we know as the Rocky Mountain Goat is 

 really one of a small group of mountain-frequenting Antelopes 

 of which the European Chamois is a member. It has been 

 suggested that our animal be called the American Chamois, 

 but it is scarcely to be expected that this name will meet with 

 popular favor, for the beast looks enough like a Goat to give a 

 sufhcient reason for the currently accepted name, and Moun- 

 tain Goat he is likely to remain until the end of his days. 



548 



