THE CHAMOIS. 99 



peats also an account to be found in many earlier works, 

 which as a curiosity is worth extracting : — " One really 

 great peculiarity is the way in which the chamois cross 

 the fields of snow without sinking in. On account of 

 their narrow and sharply-pointed hoofs they would na- 

 turally fall through, and the snow would be unable to 

 carry them. They therefore hasten their flight in the 

 following cunning manner. The last chamois jumps on 

 the back of the one before him, passes in this way over 

 the backs of all the others, and then places himself at 

 their head; the last but one does the same, and the 

 others follow in order; and in this manner they have 

 soon passed over such a field of snow." The same writer 

 tells us also that ' ' it is their inner heat which impels 

 them to seek those places where snow is to be found." 



A most curious opinion seems to have been prevalent 

 — for I find the same thing related in old books of natural 

 history, as well as in the recent publication from which 

 the above extracts are taken — with regard to the chamois, 

 when hard pressed and unable to escape its pursuers. I 

 give the whole passage : — ' ( The most dangerous chase of 

 all is that of the chamois. The hunter must manage all 

 alone, as neither man nor dog can be of any service to 

 him. His accoutrements consist of an old coat, a bag 

 with dry bread, cheese, and meat, a gun, his hunting- 

 knife, and a pair of irons for the feet. He then drives 

 the chamois from one crag to the other, making them al- 

 ways mount higher, climbs after them, and shoots them 

 if he can, or if he finds it necessary ; but if that should 

 not be the case, and he has driven one so far that it is 

 no longer able to elude him, he approaches quite close, 

 puts his hunting-knife to its side, ivhich the chamois of 

 its own accord pushes into its body, and then falls down 

 headlong from the rock." 



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