THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. 381 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE BOCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. 



The Rocky Mountain Goat.— Position in Natural History.— Its Classifica- 

 tion. — Supposed to be a Goat-antelope. — Its Appearance, Haunts, and 

 Habits. — Character of its Hair. — Vigilance of Sentinels. — Its Nimble- 

 ness. — Fear of the Lowlands. — Getting Scarce. — Flocks in Flight. — 

 First Introduction to the Goat. — A March with Indians. — A Stalk in 

 the Cascade Range. — Its Result. — Disappointment. — A Ram killed. — 

 Skin spoiled by a Fall. — A Hunt in Montana.— Sharp Terriers. — Their 

 use in stalking. — Trophies and Tramping. — Opinion of an old Hunter 

 on Goat-shooting.— A successful Stalker's Faculties. — Charging Goats. 

 — The use of Dogs iu hunting them. 



The wild-goat indigenous to the United States is one of 

 the most interesting animals on the continent to either nat- 

 uralists or sportsmen; for, being the only species of its 

 family found in the country, and making its home amidst 

 the gloomy chasms and rocky fastnesses of the great moun- 

 tain ranges that traverse the Pacific Coast in every direc- 

 tion, a certain air of mystery clung to it which made it 

 doubly interesting as a trophy of the chase. Many skilled 

 hunters were, therefore, anxious to bag it ; but, considering 

 its numbers, few have been slain, owing to the difficulty of 

 reaching its retreats or surprising it. The Indians have 

 thus far proven to be the most successful in its pursuit, as 

 they have a knowledge of its haunts and habits, and are 

 patient and persevering in stalking it. 



Among some tribes in the Far West the skin has been 

 largely used for making caps and other articles of wearing 

 apparel, but it seems to be most popular as a lining for oth- 

 er garments. 



This animal has received so many different technical ap- 

 pellations that it is difficult to know which to adopt, but I 

 should suppose that Aplocerus montanus was quite appro- 



