46 HOOFED ANIMALS 



and defends it, even when attacked by dogs, regardless of her 

 own safety. 



The White Goat is quite as odd in appearance as in mind 

 and habit. Judging merely from its appearance an observer 

 would be justified in considering it a slow, clumsy creature, 

 safe only upon level ground. On the contrary, it is the most 

 expert and daring rock-climber of all American hoofed an- 

 imals. Its hoofs are small, angular and very compact, and 

 consist of an ingenious combination of rubber-pad inside and 

 knife-edge outside, to hold the owner equally well on snow, 

 ice or bare rock. Mentally this animal has the steadiest 

 nerves, the most indomitable courage and the greatest cool- 

 ness in the face of danger that I am aware of in any hoofed 

 and horned animal. 



We have seen Goats cross walls of rock which neither man, 

 dog nor mountain sheep would dare attempt to pass. We 

 have seen a goat cross the face of a precipice of apparently 

 smooth rock, to all appearances entirely devoid of ledges or 

 shelves of any kind, and so nearly perpendicular that it 

 seemed an impossibility for any creature with hoofs to main- 

 tain a footing upon it. And yet, the goat not only passed 

 safely across, but did it with perfect composure, frequently 

 looking back, and turning around whenever he saw fit to 

 do so. 



In general outline this animal has the form of a pygmy 

 American bison, and were its pelage dark brown instead of 

 pure white, the external resemblance would indeed be strik- 

 ing. It has high shoulders, low hind quarters, stocky legs, 

 a thick-set body and shaggy pelage. Its head is carried low. 



