80 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



to spots where good nerves are required not to feel over- 

 come with horror at the scene around. 



The hair of the chamois changes in colour at various 

 seasons of the year, as is the case with the roe, and red 

 and fallow deer. In summer their coat is of a red yel- 

 lowish-brown ; in autumn it grows much darker, and in 

 winter is quite black. But though the changes here in- 

 dicated may be looked upon as a general rule, there will 

 often be found in the same herd one or more differing 

 strikingly from the rest, of a buff-colour perhaps, while 

 all the others are of a reddish-brown. The hair of the 

 forehead, around the nose, the lower jaw, and the in- 

 side of the ears, is of a yellowish tinge, and remains 

 throughout the year the same. The belly, the inside of 

 the legs, and the shaggy hair that overhangs the hoofs, 

 are also of this colour, and never change; the black 

 stripe too, on both sides of the head, extending from the 

 eye to the corners of the mouth, remains a striking fea- 

 ture under every circumstance. 



The outer hair is long and coarse ; that on the ridge 

 of the back is of greater length than on any other part 

 of the body, especially in winter, and of this the orna- 

 ment called " Gems-bart" is made Each hair is tipped 

 with white ; so that when a number of exactly the same 

 length are bound together and spread out like a fan, a 

 white line is seen to border the black surface, and pre- 

 sents a pretty appearance. The longer the hair the more 

 it is esteemed for this purpose. 



The eye of the animal is large, dark, and intelligent ; 

 it is full of animation, — but this, in its expression of 

 keen watchfulness, is the animation of fear. It carries 

 its head erect, and its graceful ears pointed, as if pre- 

 pared against surprise. 



The horns, which are black, rise from the head just 



