386 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



except, perhaps, that they are scarcer, and frequent higher 

 latitudes ; and in some respects the bagging of a few would 

 seem easier, as they lack the speed of the latter, and, as a 

 rule, run obliquely to the right and upward, even if the 

 wind is blowing in that direction. 



A good idea for a hunting-party would be to send some 

 men above a flock, keeping well to the leeward, and for 

 those below, if they have no dogs, to move to the wind- 

 ward, and advance rapidly so as to surprise the quarry. 

 This would send them scampering in the direction of those 

 concealed above, and result in an opportunity for a few 

 good shots, as they dash for crags or the mountains with- 

 out any apprehension of danger from that direction. Should 

 they be checked even, instead of turning back they would 

 break to the right and left, and try to reach the highest 

 pinnacles, owing to a blind instinct they have that all their 

 danger lies in the regions beneath, which they so scrupu- 

 lously avoid. 



The best time for hunting the animal is the early morn- 

 ing or the dusk of the evening, when it is out feeding in 

 some rocky vale ; as it is then more readily seen, and the 

 hunter is enabled to approach it with greater facility by 

 keeping to the leeward, and in the shelter of crags, un- 

 til an opportunity for a shot is presented. It is very dif- 

 ficult to find during the heat of the day, as it lies con- 

 cealed amidst dangerous ledges or gloomy precipices, and 

 any attempt to track it would lead to the detection of 

 the hunter before the hunted, for its hearing is as acute 

 as its nasal power. If pursued at all at this time, it should 

 be with the aid of keen -nosed terriers, as they are sa- 

 gacious enough to find any four-footed animal running 

 wild, and to chase it too, whether it be bear, puma, goat, 

 or weasel. 



From many inquiries, and a limited experience, I am 

 rather inclined to think that where it is little hunted it 

 shows no great fear of man if he approaches it from the 

 leeward, and does not alarm it by rapid movements. To 

 stalk it successf ully, he must therefore move slowly and 



