MOUNTAIN MILK-GIVERS. 193 



the same time getting over the ground at the rate of some- 

 thing like fifteen miles an hour, is a sight not easily to he 

 forgotten. 



6. " The goat possesses great natural affection for its 

 young, and uses both courage and artifice in their defense. 

 The fox, which is the particular enemy of the whole of 

 the sheep kind, does not fail to attempt to seize the young 

 of the goat. When the mother discovers the fox approach- 

 ing, while the insidious foe is yet at a distance, she con- 

 ceals her offspring in some thicket, and interposes herself 

 between it and the wily marauder. The kid, when con- 

 veyed to this retreat, invariably lies close and still, as if, 

 according to the fable, she had received the verbal in- 

 structions of the dam. But the fox generally discovers 

 the retreat of the kid, and a contest ensues between the 

 rapacious and the affectionate animal. The manner of 

 these contests is illustrated by the following anecdote, 

 which furnishes an affecting instance at once of the cour- 

 age and of the love of its offspring possessed by the goat : 



7. " A person having missed one of his goats when his 

 flock was taken home at night, and being afraid the wan- 

 derer would get among the young trees of his nursery, 

 two boys, wrapped in their plaids, were ordered to watch 

 all night. The morning had faintly dawned, when they 

 sprang up the hill in search of her. They could but just 

 discern her on a pointed rock afar off ; and, hastening to 

 the spot, perceived her standing with a newly-dropped 

 kid which she was defending against a fox. The enemy 

 turned round and round to lay hold of his prey, but the 

 goat presented her horns in every direction. 



8. " The youngest boy was dispatched to get assist- 

 ance to attack the fox, and the eldest, hallooing and throw- 

 ing up stones, sought to intimidate him as he climbed to 

 rescue his charge. The fox seemed well aware that the 



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