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" we may say, chewing the cud of contentment, and giving them- 

 " selves up to the full enjoyment of their nomadic life and its romau- 

 " tic haunts. Usually, before reposing, one of the herd, generally 

 " an old doe, may be observed intently gazing below, apparently 

 " scanning every spot in the range of her vision, sometimes for half 

 " an hour or more before she is satisfied that " all is well ;" strange 

 " to say, seldom or ever looking up to the rocks above. Then 

 " being satisfied on the one side, she observes the same process on 

 " the other, eventually calmly lying down, contented with the pre- 

 " cautions she has taken, that all is safe. Her post as sentinel is 

 " generally a prominent one, on the edge and corner perhaps of some 

 " ledge, to be well- sheltered from the wind, and warmed by the sun ; 

 " along which the rest of the herd dispose themselves as inclined, 

 " fully trusting in the watchful guardian, whose manoeuvres I have 

 " been describing. Should the sentinel be joined by another, or 

 " her kid come and lie down by her, they invariably place them- 

 " selves back to back or in such a manner that they can keep a look 

 " out on either side. A solitary male goes through all this by him- 

 " self, and wonderfully careful he is, but when with the herd he 

 " reposes in security, leaving it to the females to take precautions 

 " for their mutual safety. I have stated that these animals seldom 

 " look above them, except when any cause of alarm leads them to 

 " do so. I recollect an instance which I will relate, partly to show 

 " the advantage of a good color for a stalker's dress, and to illustrate 

 "what I have mentioned above. I had disturbed a buck ibex 

 " accidentally one morning, and after watching him a long distance 

 " with the glass, observed him take up a position and commence 

 " the vigilant process previously mentioned. By this I knew he 

 " was prepared to lie down. He was a long time about it, but even- 

 " tually he was satisfied, and took up his post on a prominent rock, 

 " from which, as lying with his back to the mountain he held a clear 

 " view in front and on both sides. I approached from above the 

 " wind all right, and the ibex reposing comfortably in fancied secu- 

 " rity. I had to pass a large rock to clear an intervening impedi- 

 " ment, and gain a full view of the buck, as I could at first only see 

 " his horns. I had taken the precaution to remove my shoes, the 

 " grass being very dry and noisy. The crunching of the dry grass 



