THE CHAMOIS. 



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cliffs. There are many familiar tales of the Alpine hunts, and of the terrible privations 

 and hair-breadth escapes of the hunters, but as these histories relate rather to the man 

 than to the beast, we can only give them a passing reference. 



The Chamois is, when captured young, capable of domestication, and is gifted with 

 very amusing habits, and possessed of infinite curiosity, as is generally the case with all 

 animals whose nervous system is peculiarly sensitive. The following account is taken 

 from the pages of the " Annals of Sporting," and alludes to four of these Antelopes, a 

 buck, a doe, and two kids, which were imported into England. 



" Originally, they were the property of Mr. Lowther, of Wolvesey, who, during his 

 sejour among the Alps, was determined to try the experiment of domesticating some of 

 these creatures, hitherto considered, by the natives, the most difficult to tame of all 

 animals in that mountainous region. He may be said to have succeeded ; for they were 

 gradually familiarized to his chateau of Bldnay, and to his domestics and people ; to 

 whom, from their novel nature and peculiarities, they afforded much interest and amuse- 

 ment. 





CHAMOIS. Ruplcapra Tragus. 



A femme de chambre, belonging to the establishment, they were most particularly 

 attached to, and she to them ; on a certain day, one of them strayed away for some 

 time, and much regret arose in consequence, but the maid was indefatigable in search- 

 ing for her truant favorite, and was, at length, fortunate in reclaiming the wanderer ; 

 who, on descrying her, trotted after her footsteps, obeying the enticing cry of ' Lalotte, 

 Lalottej the name which had been given him. 



They are stated, by Mr. Lowther, to have been particularly inquisitive and curious in 

 their habits, prying into everything that was brought into the chateau; the cook's basket 

 the tradesman's wares, and the charcoal-man's bags. Of this last personage they were 

 always indignant, and would pretend to make fight against him ; but on his approach, 

 would leap, with surprising agility and to a great height, upon any wall, ledge, or 

 projectment, that offered itself, and would sustain them, returning invariably to the 

 charge when the man of fuel turned his back, or retrograded : indeed, they would never 

 suffer themselves to be touched ; a finger not having yet reached them. They would 

 admit of the hand being softly brought near their persons, but, immediately as it arrived 

 within an inch of their head or body, they would vault, suddenly and lightly, from the 

 proffered contamination. To the gardener and coachman they were amazingly gracious, 

 and would, apparently, take great delight in seeing the one sow his seeds and delve his 

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