CHAMOIS. 265 



Swiss and Transylvanian Alps, the Caucasus, the Taurus Range, and in the 

 mountains of Georgia. The Pyrenean izard is a smaller form, with shorter horns 

 and a more foxy-red colour than the typical Alpine gemse ; and the variety found 

 in the Caucasus, where it is known as atchi, has also certain distinctive differences. 

 Neither of these can, however, be regarded as more than local races. At the 

 present day the chamois has become rare in the Swiss Alps, but in the Eastern 

 Alps, in the districts of Bavaria, Salzburg, Styria, and Carinthia, it is far more 

 common; while it is abundant on the precipitous summits of the central Car- 

 pathians. Fossil remains of the chamois are found in caverns at low elevations in 

 several parts of the European continent, thus indicating very different climatic 

 conditions from those now prevailing. 



As regards its habits, the general notion is that the chamois is 

 Habits 



an essentially Alpine animal ; that is, one frequenting the glaciers 



and snowy peaks above the forest-level. This, however, according to Brehm, is a 



mistaken idea ; the truth being that the chamois is really a forest-dwelling animal, 



and that most individuals of the species live from year's end to year's end within 



the limits of the forest. A certain number during the summer always leave, 



however, the main flock, to take up their abode for a period of weeks or months 



among the glaciers and snow-fields above the upper limits of forests. These 



adventurous individuals are known to the hunters as glacier - chamois, in 



contradistinction to wood-chamois; but a short spell of severe weather is 



sufficient to drive even these back to the shelter of the forests. The favourite 



haunts of the chamois are the western and north-western slopes of the Alps in 



summer ; while in the winter they prefer the spots with an easterly or southerly 



aspect. 



Chamois are essentially gregarious animals, usually associating together in 

 herds of fifteen or twenty individuals. They repose during the night, but with 

 the first glimmer of dawn commence feeding; towards the middle of the day 

 they again seek the shelter of rocks or trees, where they lie in the shade till 

 evening, when they once more issue forth to feed. 



Their chief nutriment consists of lichens and the scanty mountain herbage. 

 During the greater part of the year the old males live a solitary life apart 

 from the flocks; but during the pairing-season in October and November they 

 join the flocks of females, from which they drive away the young bucks. During 

 this period the old bucks engage in fierce contests among themselves, which occa- 

 sionally terminate fatally. 



The young, generally one but occasionally two in number, are born in May 

 or June, after a gestation of about twenty-eight weeks, and are clothed with a 

 thick woolly coat of a reddish colour. When but a day old they are able to follow 

 their dams almost anywhere ; and in three months first show their horns. In 

 three years they attain their full size ; and it is stated that the span of life of 

 a chamois will extend from twenty to twenty-five years, although this requires 

 confirmation. 



All who have seen chamois in their native haunts are agreed as to their extreme 

 agility and wariness; and their sure-footedness has become proverbial. When 

 alarmed, they utter a shrill whistling sound, which at once sets the whole flock in 



