62 CRAP-NA-GOWER. 



hoped to find our victims, we held a consultation as to the 

 point of attack. This arranged, we slunk very warily 

 round the angle of the knoll, in case the goats had moved. 

 It was well we were so cautious ; for scarcely had we 

 turned the peak, when the head and long horns of one of 

 the hirci rose into view, not more than fifty yards off. He 

 was rearing himself upon his hind legs to reach the branch 

 of a yew-tree, which made the apparition of his head so 

 sudden. I at once dropped into the long heather, and 

 beckoned to the keeper for my rifle. When I crawled 

 forward upon hands and knees, it was quite evident the 

 poor creature had no idea of an enemy. He continued his 

 yew-cropping, occasionally scratching his shoulder with his 

 long pointed horn, which seemed admirably adapted for 

 the purpose. Sometimes he would rear himself upon his 

 hind legs, to seize a twig just out of his reach when on all 

 fours. I was quite amused at his activity, and the length 

 of time he could remain in this erect posture. 



All my endeavours to ascertain whether he was the ten 

 or eight year old were unavailing, and it was impossible to 

 move further, as, in trying to get a sight of the other, I 

 might probably scare both. From his position being rather 

 above me, he looked very imposing, and I felt pretty sure 

 he was the patriarch. Kaising my rifle by inches, I fired. 

 The ball struck him true in the centre of the shoulder; 

 but, from his being above me, it took a slanting direction, 

 (as we afterwards found,) and he did not drop. Up I 

 started; and, at the same instant, the old goat bounded 

 from the opposite side of the tree, and took the lead of his 



