56 WILD -GO ATS. 



specimen of the race, shot many years ago, with a good- 

 sized one of the domesticated species. To stalk these half- 

 tame goats afforded no small diversion, and I have seen 

 several sportsmen engaged nearly a whole day before the 

 fatal shot was fired. But in their wilder state, I am told, 

 they showed amazing game, tact, and cunning in eluding 

 an enemy. The hero, whose horn I have represented, man- 

 aged to escape several of the most experienced hands in the 

 country, some with ball and others with buck-shot, for a 

 couple of days. He was brought down on the evening of 

 the second day, after being hard struck a short time before ; 

 and I have been assured that even larger than he have been 

 killed upon the island, with horns proportionably finer. 



Another circumstance also made me imagine that goat- 

 stalking might be practicable. One of my father's tenants, 

 who farmed the remote range of Glen-Douglas, had a flock 

 of goats pastured among the precipices. This flock was 

 always under the command of the shepherds and their 

 dogs. A fine old Billy, however, broke away from the 

 rest, and spurned all control. This lasted upwards of a 

 year, when he became so completely wild that it required 

 half a dozen shepherds, with their guns, to range the 

 mountains for some days before he could be shot. 



As further proof how strong the love of freedom is 

 implanted in the goat, I last summer heard of another 

 patriarch of the flock, who appeared also disgusted 

 with the monotony of his tame life, and, like the captive 

 Bedouin longing for the desert, again sought his congenial 

 wilds. He left Tyndrum, wandering from mountain -to 



