ROCK PTARMIGAN. 189 
THE Rock Prarmican (Lagopus rupestris) and 
a few smaller birds, were the only members of 
the feathered tribes I saw. The ptarmigan had 
their chickens with them; the parents and young 
grouse may be seen in the British Museum, 
obtained at this camp. 
Tue Mountain Goat, which is in reality 
nearer an antelope (Aplocerus montanus, Grd.), 
is a most conspicuous feature amidst this rocky 
desolation. Gazing on some unusually splin- 
tered and contorted hillside, suddenly a small 
herd ‘of mountain-goats come, as if by ma- 
gic, round a jutting corner, and deliberately 
march along on a ledge, where, to all appear- 
ance, a cat would be puzzled to find a firm 
foothold; frighten them and they gallop with 
equal safety, and, springing from one side of a 
chasm to another, pitch like a bird, rather 
than a hard-hoofed fourfooted beast, on the 
narrowest ledges. The females had kids (or 
fawns perhaps is more correct) by their sides. 
I ate some of the flesh, but its flavour was goaty 
in the extreme. 
Tue Bicnory or Movunrars Sueep (Ovis 
montana, Cuvier) is also a tenant of the lower 
ridges of these mountains. I did not see any, 
but the Indians say they often kill them. The 
