I2O Sport and Life. 



half of May. I have seen, and in two or three cases handled, 

 quite young beasts in the first hall of jrm-e, and two instances 

 mentioned by the above writer confirm this. So far as I know, 

 no zoological society possesses, or has ever possessed, a live 

 specimen. 



Hitherto stalking the goat has been mainly dealt with ; a 

 quicker and less arduous method of bagging this beast is to 

 employ dogs, who save one no end of "bootless" climbing and 

 fatigue, though it is, of course, not so sportsmanlike a feat. It must 

 be remembered, however, that even with dogs the sportsman's 

 endurance is tested by attaining the above timber-line regions 

 where, except perhaps in the immediate vicinity of the Pacific 

 coast ranges in sight of salt water, the goat is to be found during 

 the open seasons of the year. Some excuse therefore is to be 

 made if men, short of time and no longer able to stand the hard 

 work of stalking, take refuge to the employment of a few hounds 

 trained to their work.* 



When cornered by man or hound its habit of defending itself 

 with its sharp horns gives an old ram a fierce and yet somewhat 

 comical appearance. Its ever lowered head, sturdy assurance in 

 its strength, and the fact that it observes its enemies much as 

 an irate old gentleman would over his spectacles, no less than 

 its shaggy bison-like " humpiness " of appearance, make it an 

 unique sight, especially in autumn, winter, and early spring, when 

 its winter coat has attained its full growth. 



There is great similarity between the hoof of the Haplocerus 

 and that of the chamois, in so far as the inside surface of both are 

 of an elastic india-rubber like texture, while the outside 

 edge is extremely hard and as sharp as a chisel. The one 

 breaking the jar when leaping dowa great heights, the other 

 taking advantage of the smallest crevice or unevenness to gain 

 a foothold. 



*This hunting was described by me in an illustrated article in the Century 

 Magazine, December, 1884. 



