The White Goat 233 



agree. After landing upon our continent away 

 up in the north the goat and sheep spread them- 

 selves widely; but the goat not half nor a quarter 

 so widely as the sheep. The more we compare 

 these similar creatures, the more singular seem 

 their contrasts. 



If they were fellow-travellers and twin arrivals, 

 if they did come over the Aleutian bridge together, 

 it is either because there was only one bridge and 

 both had to use it, or else they fell out on the 

 way, and reached here not on speaking terms. 

 The first hypothesis is the one to which I incline : 

 they had to use the same trail because there was 

 only one. Sheep and goat do not seem to me to 

 live on good terms. I should not venture this 

 observation were it based upon my individual 

 experience alone. What my campings have 

 gradually led me to notice is this : you don't find 

 sheep and goat on the same hill as you find elk 

 and deer in the same wood. Considering that 

 both animals like steep places, like rocks, like 

 very high rocks ; and also that their respective 

 habitats coincide in certain regions, in British 

 Columbia, for instance, and in Washington, and, 

 I think one might fairly add, in Idaho, I dare 

 by no means make the sweeping assertion that 



