NATURAL 
reign remedy in pleurifies and forhe 
other diforders. A large bouque- 
tin thus embovwelled will weigh 180 
or 200 pounds. A female weighs 
only from 70 to 80 pounds, 
Some naturalifts are of opinion, 
‘that the diminution of the race of 
bouquetins in the Alps is owing to 
his fize, the monftrous length and 
weight of the horns, which impede 
him in his courfe; becaufe he is 
driven into places where he can 
fcarcely procure fufficient nourifh- 
ment during great part of the year, 
where his fight becomes debilitat- 
ed, and is frequently loft by the 
ftrong reflection of the fun from the 
ice and fnow. They confider this 
animal rather as a native of the 
fubalpine regions, which are co- 
vered during fummer with the fineft 
herbage, and where the bouquetins 
and chamois probably paftured in 
tranquillity, when only the lower 
vallies and plains were inhabited. 
On the contrary, it is maintained 
by others, that the bouquetin is 
endued with ftrength proportionate 
to his fize; and sipesh he is infe- 
. rior to the chamois in livelinefs and 
agility, yet he is by no means de- 
ficient in activity; that his horns, 
though large and weighty, yet 
from their reclined pofition do 
not feem to be any impediment, 
but rather render him effential fer- 
vice when he happens to fall, or 
purpofely throws himfelf down pre- 
cipices to avoid his purfuers. They 
add alfo, that his natural food is 
rather lichens than herbs ; that he 
is particularly fond of the young 
fhoots of trees and fhrubs; and 
that in all the places where he in- 
habits, he is found in the coldeft and 
rudeft mountains, and on the fteep- 
eft rocks. From thefe circumftan- 
a 
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HISTOR Y. 6r 
cés, it is not improbable, that his 
prefent fituation and manner of life 
is an effet of nature rather than 
neceflity. Befides, why do the cha-~ 
mois, who are more hunted than 
the bouquetin, ftill inhabit the lefs 
elevated regions; and why are they 
not driven into the glaciers? To 
account for the prefent fcarcity of 
the bouquetin, we need only con- 
fider the number of its enemies, in 
men, beafts, and birds of prey. Nor 
is there much caufe for apprehen- 
fions, that the race will be extinét 
even in the Alps. But allowing 
that the bouquetin was no longer 
found in his native Alps, ftill we 
could not affirm with fo much pro- 
priety that the race was extiné, as 
that it had migrated into a milder 
climate, and, with a ftate of domef- 
tication and more fucculent food, 
had acquired fofter manners, a form 
lefs rude, fmaller and {moother 
horns. For it is even not impro- 
bable, that the Aireus ferus or bouc- 
eftain of Belon, the bouquetin of the 
Alps, the Siberian ibex, and ega- 
grus, both fo accurately defcribed 
by Pallas, and the tame goat in all 
its different forms, are only varie- 
ties of the fame fpecies. Their 
difference in fhape and manners 
may be fufticiently accounted for 
from a change of climate, fituation, 
and food; they are found to couple 
freely with each other ; and are 
alerted to produce an offspring 
which is fertile. 
They all have a beard, which 
feems to be the great charatterittic 
diftinction of this genus. They 
differ more or lefs from each other 
in the fhape of their horns, fize, 
and coat, none of which ‘can be 
efteemed certain fpecific diflinétions. 
The greateit difference undoubtedly 
confiits 
