178 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



rise perpendiculiirly, or nearly so, for some distance trom the forehead, after 

 which they bend sharply backwards and downwards to form the pointed 

 hooks so familiar to all Alpine travellers. The longest pair ot chamois 

 horns on record (Fig. 41) are in the possession of Count Alfred Teleki, 

 and were obtained from Retyezat, in the Carpathians. They measure 

 I2f inches in total length, and 4^ inches in girth. Several specimens of 12 

 inches are on record. Generally a buck chamois does not weigh more than 

 about 65 lbs., but the animal to which the record horns pertained scaled 123 

 lbs. and a fraction, and a weight of i 25 lbs. has been recorded. The height 

 at the shoulder varies between about ^o and 1,2 inches ; the hind-quarters 

 being slightly higher. The horns of the bucks are placed wider apart, and 

 are also stouter and more strongly curved than those ot the does. In other 

 respects the two sexes are practically similar in general external appearance. 

 The hair is rather stiff and coarse ; in summer short, not exceeding 

 about i| inch in length, and brownish grey at the roots and bright rusty 

 red at the tips ; in winter it grows to a length of between 4 and 5 inches 

 and to between 7 and 8 inches on the neck, where it forms a short mane, 

 the tips of the hairs being here black. A woolly under-fur is also 

 developed with the winter coat. The colour of the animal varies con- 

 siderablv accordint^ to season. In summer the general tint is a dark 

 reddish brown or rusty red, passing into bright reddish yellow on the 

 under-parts ; a blackish brown stripe runs down the middle line of the 

 back ; the throat and face are yellowish or isabelline fawn ; on the 

 shoulders, thighs, chest, and flanks the general tint becomes darker. The 

 upper surface and root of the short and somewhat bushy tail are reddish 

 grey, but the under side and tip are black. From the ear runs a dark 

 brown streak through the eye nearly to the angle of the mouth, dividing 

 the fawn of the throat from that of the face ; and there are several small 

 rusty spots between the front angle of the eye and the nostrils. In spring 

 a greyer tinge is often noticeable. The long winter coat is dark brown 



