252 ^'EW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



well beaten path along- the suniniit-ridgc, passing close to the 

 snow fields and showing constant usage. 



WIXTKK RANGES. 



In winter the goat sulTcrs from the severity ul the storms on 

 the mountain tops and the limit of its increase is, in the long run, 

 dependent on the food supply available during this season. This 

 is also true of most of our large animals and the elimination of 

 the weak takes place during the terrible blizzards of winter and 

 early spring. 



In much of the southern range of the goat the use of the 

 larger valleys for farming has undoubtedly interfered seriously 

 with their lower feeding gre)un(ls. While the loss of these winter 

 ranges is more serious for other game, even the goat feels the 

 approach of civilization. The high valleys, however, still remain 

 untouched and a certain number of hardy individuals will winter 

 successfully in close proximity to settlements if not too much 

 hunted. This is notably the case in the Bitter Root \'alley, where 

 goat are often found within sight of the town of Hamilton, 

 Montana. 



In winter the question of water supply is, of course, ehminated 

 and at this season many ranges are well stocked with goat which, 

 in summer, are deserted on account of lack of water. The goat 

 travels so slowly that, aside from the danger of venturing far 

 from the rocks, long daily journeys to and from a feeding groimd 

 are quite impossible. 



As to food supply, we are apt to think of the mountain tops 

 as barren in comparison with the valleys ; but in a very mountain- 

 ous region, such as British Columbia, the reverse is often true. 

 On the liigher mountain slopes and ridges are to be found the 

 best pasturage and the most sunny resting places. The valleys 

 receive the sun for a nuich shorter portion of the day than do the 

 higher ridges and while the moimtain tops are above the fc»gs, 

 mists and clouds often darken the low country, it is noticeable 

 that domestic cattle, sheej) and h(jrses in a mountainous country, 

 are very partial to the high lands, seldom remaining vohmtarily 

 in the valleys and river bottoms. In such a country the first im- 

 pulse of a grazing animal is to climb high. .Anyone who has 

 tried to hunt horses which have strayed from camj), is apt to 

 be familiar with this habit. 



It is the inacce.ssible character of the c<iuntr\ inhabitiMl by the 

 goat and not his wariness or agility, whii'li has niaile gi '.nt hunt- 



