'ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 



95 



ment, until the arrow pierces it. If there are others in com- 

 pany, they will frequently remain with the wounded, until 

 they are all in like manner destroyed." 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT ( Capra Montana) of which 

 very little is known, has for its northern limits the River of 

 the Mountains, and has been met with as low down as 45 

 degrees north. It is more numerous on the western than on 

 the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, but is rarely 

 seen at any distance from them, frequenting the peaks and 

 ridges in summer, and occupying the valleys in winter. 



Description. Nearly the size of a common sheep, with a 

 shaggy appearance, in consequence of the protrusion of the 

 long hair beyond the wool, which is white and soft. The 

 horns and hoofs are black ; the horns slightly curved back- 

 wards, and projecting but little beyond the wool. The 

 fleece of this goat is said to equal that of the celebrated shawl 

 goat of Cashmere, both in fineness and value, though the 

 skin is spongy and only used for mocassins. Little is known 

 of its haunts ; of its habits still less. Were it not for the 

 fleecy nature of its covering, and the shortness of its 

 horns, some analogy might be fancied to exist between this 



