HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 85 



The hunting of the Chamois is very laborious and 

 difficult. The most usual way is to shoot them from 

 behind the clefts of the rocks. Some also pursue 

 them as they do the Stag, by placing proper persons 

 at all the passages of a glade or valley, and then 

 sending in others to rouse the game. Dogs are quite 

 useless in this chase, as they rather alarm than over- 

 take : nor is it without danger to the men ; for it 

 often happens, that when the animal finds itself 

 overpressed, it drives at the hunter with its head, 

 and often tumbles him down an adjoining precipice. 

 The Chamois cannot go upon ice when smooth ; but 

 if their be the least inequalities on its surface, it 

 then bounds along in security, and quickly evades 

 all pursuit. 



The skin of the Chamois was once famous, when 

 tanned, for its softness and warmth : at present, 

 however, since the art of tanning has been brought 

 to greater perfection, the leather called shauimoy, is 

 made also from those of the tame Goat, the Sheep, 

 and the Deer. 



