120 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



the dog was alert, and easily kept out of the way. As 

 long as the dog bayed the pair, the mother goat deter- 

 minedly but patiently stood her ground. This lasted for 

 some minutes. Finally Professor Osborn called off the 

 dog, whereupon the mother-goat lost no time in climb- 

 ing down the precipice, with her offspring following 

 close behind.* 



Excepting the musk-ox and female grizzly bear, 

 what other American animal would have taken such 

 risks for its young, or would have acted so bravely and 

 so sensibly? 



Of course it is to be expected that any wild animal 

 will to the best of its ability defend its young against 

 the attacks of other animals. In the spring of 1905, Mr. 

 Charles L. Smith saw a female goat successfully defend 

 her kid from a golden eagle which sought to seize it. 

 The goat stood close beside her young, and whenever the 

 eagle swooped, and sought to seize the kid, the mother 

 reared on her hindlegs, and with her horns made thrust 

 after thrust at the eagle. In a short time the eagle aban- 

 doned its attempt. 



The mountain goat is not only sublimely courageous 

 in climbing, and in traversing precipices, but as occasion 

 requires, it is also a bold and effective fighter. Those 

 who know the limit of its temper can judge of the risks 

 of life and limb which Mr. Phillips ran when he faced 



* A full account of this remarkable experience, written by Professor 

 Osborn, and fully illustrated, will be found in the Tenth Annual Report of 

 the New York Zoological Society. The Ninth Annual Report, of the same 

 series, contains an admirable illustrated paper on " The Mountain Goat," by 

 Mr. Madison Grant. 



