ANIMALS OF THE 



note with such force, that the rocks and the 

 forests re-echo to the sound. The first hiss con- 

 tinues as long as the time of one inspiration. In 

 the beginning it is very sharp, and deeper towards 

 the close. The animal having, after this first 

 alarm, reposed a moment, again looks round, and 

 perceiving the reality of its fears, continues to 

 hiss by intervals, until it has spread the alarm to 

 a very great distance. During this time it seems 

 in the most violent agitation ; it strikes the ground 

 with its fore-foot, and sometimes with both ; it 

 bounds from rock to rock ; it turns and looks 

 round ; it runs to the edge of the precipice ; 

 and, still perceiving the enemy, flies with all its 

 speed. The hissing of the male is much louder 

 and sharper than that of the female ; it is per- 

 formed through the nose, and is properly no 

 more than a very strong breath, driven violently 

 through a small aperture. The chamois feeds 

 upon the best herbage, and chooses the most deli- 

 cate parts of the plants, the flower, and the ten- 

 der buds. It is not less delicate with regard to 

 several aromatic herbs, which grow upon the 

 sides of the mountains. It drinks but very little 

 while it feeds upon the succulent herbage, and 

 chews the cud in the intervals of feeding. This 

 animal is greatly admired for the beauty of its 

 eyes, which are round and sparkling, and which 

 mark the warmth of its constitution. Its head is 

 furnished with two small horns, of about half a 

 foot long, of a beautiful black, and rising from 

 the forehead almost betwixt the eyes. These, 

 contrary to what they are found in other animals, 



