x6o On the W'tld Goat of the Alps. 



jtwi(hccl to reach, parallel to the wall along which it Intended 

 to proceed, and examined it with great attention ; then, as 

 if it had renonnced its defign, it began to traverfe, with flow 

 fteps, the court in which it was confined ; but, returning 

 from time to time, it took its ftation oppofite to the yjlace it 

 had in view ; and fomctimcs balanced itfelf on iis hind legs, 

 as if to try their elallicity : at laft, having repealed this pre- 

 paration for fome time, it at once formed its refolution, 

 darted itfelf forwards, leaped along the wall as already men- 

 tioned, and foon reached the fpot it intended. It has been 

 feen Itandinsi; on the upper edge of a door. It chofe for its 

 lodging a place under the roof of the highell tower in the 

 caftle. 



This animal was not mifchievous ; and if it often prefentcd 

 its horns, it was only thut they might be fcratched, of which 

 it feemed very fond. It knew thofe who fcratched it, and 

 often prefented its head to them for that purpofe. When it 

 wiflied to ftrike with its horns, it never did fo direefly for- 

 wards, but by rifing up on its hind legs and ftriking fidewife. 

 As it occafioned fome damage by its leaping about, it was 

 found neceflary to tie its legs. This ftate of reftraint appeared 

 to me to have had an influence on its phyfical conftitution, 

 as it afterwards became meagre. Born to enjoy liberty, this 

 animal cannot endure confinement: I fliould even have ima- 

 gined that a part of its docility arofe from its weaknefs, had 

 I not known that this gentle and fociable animal can be eafily 

 tamed. The following trait, which fliows how fufceptible 

 it is of being tamed, deftrves to be known : 



A guide of Chamonix, being employed to conduft to 

 Chantilli, for the menagerie of the prince of Conti, two wild 

 goats which he had reared, thev followed him merely through 

 their attachment to him. When he arrived near the town 

 of Befanijon, they were frightened by a herd of cows, im- 

 mediately betook themfelvcs to flight, climbed up the fteepell 

 rocks in the n<ighboiirhood, and abandoned their guide, who 

 •was under great enibarrafi'ment : he, however, went after 

 them, and, having called to them, they foon returned, and 

 followed him as before. 



I thought it neeolTary to enter into thefe details, to deftroy 

 that prejudice which reprefents this animal as wild and nn- 

 traAahle. What I have faid proves, on the contrary,' the do- 

 cility, familiarity, and attachment, of which it is fu(ceptible. 

 [|To h- concluded in next Numbtr.J 



XXIX. Ac- 



