240 The M^hite Goat 



and precisely the reverse of the sheep's ; it is a 

 capital V, pointing backward. The sheep's track 

 is a V also, but pointing forward. By his clumsy- 

 looking hoofs, and his thick-set and apparently 

 unwieldy legs, it would seem as though this goat 

 had best keep his level, as though he might sel- 

 dom go up two steps of even a porch without 

 accident ; a set of legs and hoofs could scarce 

 be instanced of seemingly less avail for a moun- 

 taineer. So, at least, I should argue, recalling the 

 various sharp apparatus which we need ourselves. 

 One does not see how these heavy animals can 

 leap and cling. But let me transcribe uncor- 

 rected some sentences from my hunting journal 

 of November, 1892, pencilled in flippant spirit 

 after a day's pursuit of the goat. 



" They . . . chose places to lie down where fall- 

 ing off was the easiest thing you could do. . . . 

 The individual tracks we have passed always 

 choose the inclined plane where they have a 

 choice between that and the level. ... I sup- 

 pose these animals sometimes must fall, though 

 they have a projecting heel of horn to their hoof 

 which is wonderfully adapted to their vertical 

 habits. But if they do fall, it probably amuses 

 them. Their hair is more impenetrably thick 



