248 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



nibbling at small plants, is on the slides when the grass first 

 appears and it is probable that to this habit the greatest mortal- 

 ity of this animal is due, as many are killed each spring bv the 

 avalanches on these snow slides. 



The sheep is an active, wary and fleet-footed animal, fully as 

 well equipped as the deer to escape by agility from its enemies 

 and is not dependent for safety on a refuge beyond the reach of 

 other animals. The goat on the other hand, is heavy, powerful, 

 clumsy, slow moving and somewhat stupid and does not dare to 

 venture very far fnmi its inaccessible rocks. It thrives among 

 precipitous cliffs, which are everywhere known among hunters 

 as "goat rocks" and are recognizable as such at a glance. 



LOCAL DISTRIBUTION. 



In a mountainous country it is ]x"rfcctlv easy to say where goat 

 are to be found, if there are any in the neighborhood. They de- 

 scend, of course, into the upper limits of the forests, but always 

 keep near to cliffs to which the\- can retire when attacked. Salt- 

 licks have been found in the hillsides, where great holes have 

 been eaten out by these animals. The trails which lead to some 

 of the licks in British Columbia are worn so deeply as to re- 

 semble buffalo trails. Goat pass through the forests and lower 

 sloi)es of the mountains in moving from one localitv to another, 

 l)ut this of course, is exce])tional. 'Jdiey sometimes swim rivers 

 and have been killed while crossing the .Stickine River in British 

 Columbia, a wide and rapid stream. 



So complete is the protection the goat finds in broken rocks 

 and precipices, that they are practically out of danger from any 

 animal approaching from below, except bear, which frequently 

 lie in wait for them and occasionally capture an unwary indi- 

 vidual. The eagles take a very heavy toll from the young goat 

 in the spring. - 



The difficulty of reaching the mountain tops is, of course, a 

 protection against man, but the conspicuous color and the slow 

 movements of the animal make it a com])aratively easy victim 

 when once reached by hard climbing. 



WATER SUPPLY. 



The question of water supply on the mountains inhabited by 

 goat has a most important bearing on the distribution of the ani- 

 mal. In a large portion of the southern range of the goat, little 



