JL Aire 
Nabe Wont 
CHAMOIS.—Rupicapra Tragus. 
cliffs. There are many familiar tales of the Alpine hunts, and of the terrible privations 
and hair-breadth escapes of the hunters, but as these histories relate rather to the man 
than to the beast, we can only give them a passing reference. 
The Chamois is, when captured young, capable of domestication, and is gifted with 
very amusing habits, and possessed of infinite curiosity, as is generally the case with all 
animals whose nervous system is peculiarly sensitive. The following account is taken 
from the pages of the “Annals of Sporting,” and alludes to four of ‘these Antelopes, a 
buck, a doe, and two kids, which were imported into England. 
“ Originally, they were the property of Mr. Lowther, of Wolvesey, who, during his 
séjour among the Alps, was determined to try the experiment of domesticating some of 
these creatures, hitherto considered, by the natives, the most difficult to tame of all animals 
in that mountainous region. He may be said to have succeeded ; for they were gradually 
familiarized to his chateau of Blonay, and to his domestics and people ; to whom, from 
their novel nature and peculiarities, they afforded much interest and amusement. 
A femme de chambre, belonging to the establishment, they were most particularly 
attached to, and she to them ; on a certain day, one of them strayed away for some time, 
and much regret arose in consequence, but the maid was indefatigable in searching for 
her truant favourite, and was, at length, fortunate in reclaiming the wanderer; who, on 
descrying her, trotted atter her footsteps, obeying the enticing cry of ‘ Lalotte, Lalotte, the 
name which had been given him. 
They are stated, by. Mr. Lowther, to have been particularly inquisitive and curious in 
their habits, prying into everything that was brought ito the chateau ; the cook’s basket, 
the tradesmen’s wares, and the charcoal-man’s bags. Of this last personage they were 
always indignant, and would pretend to make fight against him; but on his approach, 
would leap, with surprising agility and to a ‘ereat height, upon any wall, ledge, or 
projectment, that offered itself, and would sustain them, returning invariably to the 
charge when the man of fuel turned his back, or retrograded : indeed, they would never 
suffer themselves to be touched; a finger not having ‘yet reached them. They would 
admit of the hand being softly brought near their persons, but, immediately as it arrived 
within an inch of their head or body, they would vault, suddenly and lightly, from the 
proffered contamination, To the gardener and coachman they were amazingly gracious, 
and would, apparently, take great ‘delight im seeing the one sow his seeds and delve his 
Its UU 
