82 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



spects. It is most agreeably lively, and active be- 

 yond expression. The hair is short like that of the 

 Doe : in spring, it is of an ash colour ; in autumn, 

 dun, inclining to black; and in winter, of a blackish 

 brown. 



This animal is found, in great plenty, in the 

 mountains of Dauphiny, Piedmont, Savoy, Switzer- 

 land, and Germany. They are very gentle, and live 

 in society with each other. They are found in flocks 

 from four to fourscore, and even an hundred, dis- 

 persed upon the crags of the mountains. The large 

 males are seen feeding detached from the rest, 

 except in rutting time, when they approach the fe- 

 males, and drive away the young. The time of their 

 coupling is from the beginning of October to the end 

 of November ; and they bring forth in March and 

 April. The young keep with the dam for about five 

 months, and sometimes longer, if the hunters and 

 the Wolves do not separate them. It is asserted, 

 that they live between twenty and thirty years. 

 Their flesh is good to eat ; and they yield ten or 

 twelve pounds of suet, which far surpasses that of 

 the Goat in hardness and goodness. 



The Chamois has scarcely any cry : it has a kind 

 of feeble bleat, by which the parent calls its young : 

 but in cases of danger, and when it is to warn the 

 rest of the flock, it uses a hissing noise, which is 

 heard at a great distance : for it is to be observed 

 that this creature is extremely vigilant, and has an 

 eye remarkably quick and piercing : its smell also 

 is not less distinguishing. When it sees its enemy 

 distinctly, it stops for a moment ; and if the person 

 be near, it flies off in an instant. In the same man- 

 ner, by its smell, it can discover a man at half a 

 league distance, and give immediate notice. Upon 



