THE GOAT. 37 



form, resembles the goat ; but the horns are much larger, 

 bent backwards, and full of knots, one of which, it is as- 

 serted, is adde'd every year ; and some authors have af- 

 firmed them to be two yards long : the hair of the ani- 

 mal is brown, but its beard completely black; there is 

 likewise a streak of the same colour which entirely runs 

 along the back ; but the belly and thighs resemble a deer. 

 The shammoy is an active lively animal, yet requires 

 but little pains to make it tame. In their nature they ap- 

 pear to be peaceable and good-tempered, warmly at- 

 tached to their whole tribe, and generally herd in socie- 

 ties together. The hair is short, like that of the doe; in 

 spring it is of a light ash ; but in autumn it changes to a 

 dun, and in winter to a blackish brown. This animal 

 is found in great abundance in the mountains of Dau- 

 phiny, Piedmont, Savoy, Switzerland, and Germany : 

 their flesh is allowed to be wholesome and good; and 

 their suet, boiled in milk, is prescribed as a medicine in 

 pulmonary complaints. The cry of this animal is very 

 faint, or it might rather be said that it scarcely cries at 

 all ; yet it makes a violent breathing through the aper- 

 ture of the nose, when it wishes to warn its companions 

 of danger or affright : it is endowed by Nature with such 

 an exquisite smell, that it can discover a man at the 

 distance of half a league; and its timidity of temper 

 takes instant alarm, and gives notice of his arrival by 

 the breathing just described. The/shammoy feeds upon 

 the choicest herbage, and selects the buds of the most 

 delicate plants and flowers: in size it resembles the do- 

 mestic goat, but is particularly remarked for the beauty 

 of its eyes, which are round, sparkling, and full of fire : 

 its head is furnished with two small horns of about half 

 afoot in length, and terminate in a very sharp point : 

 the ears are elegantly placed near the horns ; and there 



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