﻿118 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY. 



other, and generally that which is nearest the sea is most steep. The 

 Alps have a much more abrupt descent on the Italian, than on the 

 Swiss side ; and the Himalaya mountains are steepest on the south- 

 west. Almost every mountain of considerable elevation will give 

 evidence of the same fact. A series of mountains having the same 

 basis, is called a chain, as the Uralian chain, which separates Eu- 

 rope from Asia, and the Alleghany chain in the United States. 



I have said nothing concerning volcanoes, as I mean, before long, 

 to devote a few pages to that interesting and wonderful subject. In 

 the mean time, try and think what causes them. Why does the 

 earth tremble and shake, and particular mountains send forth fire 

 and stones, and lava ? Some people assert that these are but the 

 vent-holes to the internal fires forever at work in our earth. What 

 say you ? Examine the subject. You can't help being interested. 



The Ibex* 



THIS pretty animal, of the goat family, resembles, in many respects, 

 the CHAMOIS, in its habits, though its horns are much larger and 

 stronger. It is now rarely met with, having become very shy and 

 wild from the encroachments made upon its race by the Alpine 

 hunters. It is found, however, in the Alps, on the Caucasian 

 Mountains, and in the mountains of Abyssinia in Africa. 



Like the chamois, it loves to frequent the most exalted ranges, near 

 the limits of perpetual snow, where it feeds principally upon moss 

 and the leaves upon the low bushes which grow there. It is exceed- 

 ingly \vatchful, and difficult of approach, on account of the delicacy 

 <of its senses of hearing and smell. It is a small animal, perhaps 

 two and a half feet in height. Its color changes with the seasons, 

 from a reddish brown in summer to a brown gray in winter. 



The ibex is hunted for its fie- h arid skin, chiefly the latter. When 

 driven to desperation, it will sometimes turn upon its pursuers and 

 butt with its powerful horns, and endeavor to drive its adversary over 

 tremendous precipices. 



