Mountain Game 151 



of watching the queer habits of the game, all com- 

 bine to add to the hunter's enjoyment. 



White goats are self-confident, pugnacious be- 

 ings. An old billy, if he discovers the presence of 

 a foe without being quite sure what it is, often re- 

 fuses to take flight, but walks around, stamping, and 

 shaking his head. The needle-pointed black horns 

 are alike in both sexes, save that the males' are a 

 trifle thicker; and they are most effective weapons 

 when wielded by the muscular neck of a resolute and 

 wicked old goat. They wound like stilettos and 

 their bearer is in consequence a much more formi- 

 dable foe in a hand-to-hand struggle than either a 

 branching-antlered deer or a mountain ram, with his 

 great battering head. The goat does not butt; he 

 thrusts. If he can cover his back by a tree trunk 

 or bowlder he can stand off most carnivorous ani- 

 mals no larger than he is. 



Though awkward in movement, and lacking all 

 semblance of lightness or agility, goats are excel- 

 lent climbers. One of their queer traits is their way 

 of getting their forehoofs on a slight ledge, and then 

 drawing or lifting their bodies up by simple mus- 

 cular exertion, stretching out their elbows, much as 

 a man would. They do a good deal of their climb- 

 ing by strength and command over their muscles; 

 although they are also capable of making aston- 

 ishing bounds. If a cliff surface has the least slope, 

 and shows any inequalities or roughness whatever, 



