238 CKUISINGS IN THE CASCADES 



(which are present in both sexes) jet black, small, 

 conical, nearly erect, polished, and curving slightly 

 backward; ringed or wrinkled at the base, much like 

 those of the chamois. Muzzle and hoofs also black. 

 False or accessory hoofs present. Dentition: Incisors, 

 8 lower; canines, none; molars, 12 upper, 12 lower; 

 total 32. The mountain goat brings forth two 

 or three young at a time, usually late in May or 

 early in June. Slightly gregarious, being frequently 

 found in small bands in winter, but in summer sea- 

 son not more than a single family is usually seen 

 together, and in summer and fall the older males 

 may frequently be found entirely alone. The nose 

 is nearly straight, ears rather long, pointed, and 

 lined with long hair. Tail six to eight inches long, 

 clothed with long hair. Legs thick and short. 

 Hoofs grooved on sole and provided with a thick 

 spongy mass of cartilage in centre, projecting below 

 the outer edges of hoof, enabling the animal to 

 cling firmly to steep or smooth rocks. The dimen- 

 sions of one adult male specimen measured are as 

 follows: Length from tip of nose to root of tail, 3 

 feet 7 inches; length of tail, 7 inches; length of head, 

 11 j inches; length of horns, 8 inches; diameter of 

 horns at base, 1 inch. Its estimated gross weight i& 

 130 pounds. 



The food of the mountain goat consists principally, 

 in summer, of the leaves of the alder and of various 

 mountain shrubs, and in winter of mosses and 

 lichens that grow on the rocks. 



Aplocerus Montanus is much more closely allied 

 to the antelope than to the domestic goat, and has 

 few characteristics in common with the latter 



