98 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



there are six solitary islets, one each for the tahrs, serows, 

 gorals, mountain goat, chamois and takin, all of them 

 short-horned goats, no more, no less. 



In its physical aspect the mountain goat is both strik- 

 ing and peculiar. In September it is brilliantly white, 

 and its coat is as immaculate as a new fur cloak fresh 

 from the hands of the furrier. From nose to tail, it is 

 newly combed, and without spot or stain. It seems as 

 white as newly fallen snow, but in direct comparison 

 with snow there is a faint, cream-like tint. It is the only 

 wild hoofed animal in the world (s. f. a. k.) which is 

 pure white all the year round; for in spring and summer 

 the white mountain sheep stains his coat very badly. 



The pelage of the mountain goat is the finest and 

 softest, and also the warmest, to be found on any North 

 American hoofed animal except the musk-ox. To wind, 

 dry cold and snow it is seemingly impervious, but there 

 are times and seasons when the rain-coat is imperfect, and 

 too short to shed rain. In September, the rain-coat is 

 not fully developed, and the fine pelage which covers 

 the sides is almost as soft as down. As winter approaches, 

 the fine hair of the under coat seems to stop growing, 

 but the coarser and straighter hair of the rain-coat keeps 

 on until it has attained such luxuriant length that the 

 animal takes on a shaggy appearance. Late in Novem- 

 ber this reaches its full length. Even in September, the 

 beard and knee-breeches are of good length, and these, 

 with the queerly rounded crests, on the shoulders and on 

 the hindquarters, contain the only hair of the whole coat 

 that is coarse and harsh. 



