274 The IVhiie Goat 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT 



(Haplocerus montanus^) 



This is one of the very few mammals that are 

 permanently white or whitish at all seasons, and 

 although commonly termed a goat, it really belongs 

 to the same group as the serows, which it closely 

 resembles in the form and color of the horns. In 

 winter the hair is very long, and pure white in 

 color; along the back it is erect, and much elon- 

 gated on the withers and haunches, so as to give 

 to the animal the appearance of possessing a pair 

 of humps. The summer coat is comparatively 

 short, and has a yellowish tinge. Height at 

 shoulder just short of 3 feet; weight from 180 to 

 300 pounds. 



Distribution. — North America, throughout the 

 Rocky Mountains, from about latitude 36° in Cali- 

 fornia at least as far north as latitude 60°. By 

 American naturalists the proper generic name of 

 the animal is considered to be Oreamnus instead 

 of Haplocerus. 



1 " Records of Big Game," Rowland Ward, third edition. 



