52 SHORT STALKS 



he called them, as they would have come down for the salt. 

 I did not then know wliat lie meant. Sure enouoh when 

 we cautiously looked over, there, on a wide green plateau, 

 four hundred yards in diameter, was a herd of no less than 

 twenty-four chamois. Some were chasing one another at 

 full gallop round this park-like space ; others butted one 

 another, or in sheer exuberance of spirits sprang into the 

 air and pirouetted on their hind-legs ; while grave seniors, 

 too old to dance, looked on with the same air of super- 

 cilious approval which grandfathers like myself assume 

 at a ghillies' ball in Scotland. It appeared that earlier in 

 the summer, goats are herded on this open space, and, 

 after they have been driven down, the chamois are 

 attracted by the remains of the salt which is spread 

 for them. Sometimes such sahldcheiicr, or saltlicks, occur 

 naturally. It is not on my conscience that I disturbed 

 this family pai'ty, for while we were making the necessar}' 

 detour, they betook themselves to the woods for their 

 mid-day siesta, we knew not whither. 



I have several times been the witness of such a gemse- 

 sj>i('I. They generally choose a wide patch of snow, in 

 an open valley where they cannot l)e easily approached. 

 Once, I am ashamed to say, I successfully stalked such a 

 party. They were so occupied, that I succeeded in crawl- 

 ing down to them in full view. Chamois hunters do not 

 understand this kind of flat crawlino- and oenerallv will 

 not attempt it, as there is in most cases such abundant 

 rock covert that there is no need for it ; but it is often 

 effective when chamois are feedino-, and the lioht is not too 

 good, if you let yourself downhill on your back, feet fore- 

 most, and only move while their heads are down. 



