RECOLLECTIONS OF CIIAMOIS IIINTIXG 37 



can improve liimsclf" nlniost iiulcfiiiitely, until lie per- 

 fni'iiis feats wliicli lie would lia\'e |)i'e\i(ius|\- thought 

 impossible. 



It should l>e remembered that Ji chamois, even when at 

 rest, always places himself where he can look tuil. and. as 

 he eau see. so he fan be seen. J used to be astonished at 

 the ease with whieh some of mv hunters have, at a distance 

 of two tliousand \'ai"ds or more, detected a rhamois bv 

 the gray marks on its face — tlie only visible part of its 

 body. Yet I have myself, when in good practice, accom- 

 plished the feat. 



So great is the power of a good spy-glass that I do 

 not remember ever to have had a l)lank day's chamois 

 Ininling. u'. iritjinni st'cm;/ ait/jthiiKj, except, of course, 

 when the mountains have become shrouded in mist early 

 in the day. This diligent spying is to ni\' mind one of 

 the most inspiriting features of tlie sport. ^Jany a de- 

 liglitful liour of anticipation havi' 1 spent in watdiing a 

 herd, or perhaps more than one, while waiting for them to 

 settle for the day, discussing the best line of approach, and 

 impressing upon the memory the salient features of the 

 eround in their neiiihliuurhuod : and this is not wasted tnne, 

 for these animals are so restless that it is often necessary 

 to wait till uooii before th<' real labour of the day e(un- 

 mences. 



The deli«dit of overcominu* rock dit]iculties — one seldom 

 has any ice work in ehanioi- huniing — adds another eharui. 

 and the .\lpine Club is a standing proitf that healthy 

 Enfrlishnien aic t'ond of cLindjerino: for its own sake. At 

 the same time it is a nii.^lake to su})pose ihal the conven- 

 tional ])ietures that are written and painteil. ni' (/<'msj('f(/«'rs 



