196 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



northern mountains. This range never exceeded 

 four hundred miles in width, and it is doubtful if 

 the southern limit ever reached Northern Colorado. 

 Hunters tell of the goats which they have seen in 

 Northern Colorado, but it is probable that they have 

 mistaken bands of female sheep for goats, which 

 they greatly resemble at certain seasons of the year. 

 It is certain that the animal abounds in parts of 

 British Columbia, but its capture is attended with so 

 much hardship that it is rarely sought for except by 

 those naturalists who are something more than room- 

 workers. The goat will be found for years by those 

 who are hardy enough to search for him, but there 

 will be few killed. 



It was while such thoughts as these were passing 

 through the mind of Dyche that he saw a goat walk- 

 ing on a ridge about half a mile away. The animal 

 went to the point of a stony crag, from which it 

 viewed the country for ten or fifteen minutes. It 

 was so far away and the country was so rough be- 

 tween him and the animal that the naturalist was 

 in some doubt as to the best mode of procedure. The 

 goat solved the question by descending into one of 

 the stony canons, and as soon as it disappeared from 

 view Dyche began to stalk it. The goat came out 

 on another crag and looked around. It appeared 

 uneasy, and the hunter feared that it had winded 

 him. From this crag the goat descended to a still 

 lower one, and thence on down, until at last it ap- 

 peared at a distance of about three hundred yards. 



Turning to the right the goat began ascending a 

 ridge, and calculating that its next appearance 



