THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT 3 



rarely visited either by Indians or by white 

 hunters. As a result, when first shot at they 

 were not excited and were slow to run away. 

 This procrastination of the goat while under 

 fire, together with his supremely crude outlines 

 and slow, awkward actions, led most early hunt- 

 ers and trappers to call him a stupid animal. 

 But he is not at all stupid. Evidence of his 

 alertness and mental development is shown in 

 his curiosity and in his ability to readjust him- 

 self promptly to new dangers. 



In localities where he was unacquainted with 

 man the goat apparently made no effort to 

 guard against enemies or to use sentinels. But 

 promptly after the coming of hunters and long- 

 range rifles he became extremely wary and 

 sought look-out resting places of safety and had 

 sentinels on duty. He is thoroughly wide- 

 awake at all times. When surprised in close 

 quarters he shows no confusion or panic, and 

 retreats in a masterly manner. If one route of 

 retreat is blocked he starts for another without 

 losing his head. If finally cornered, he makes a 

 stand. 



Hunters and dogs cornered an old billy near 

 me in the head of a glacial cirque, in what is 

 now the Glacier National Park. The goat 

 made his stand on slide rock at the bottom of 

 a precipitous wall. He watched for an oppor- 



