CHAMOIS. 261 



amid storm-swept canons and beetling crags, amid steel-blue glaciers and snowy 

 I icaks, where the silence is seldom broken save by the rush of mountain torrent, 

 the howling of the storm, or the crashing of the treacherous avalanche, — here, far 

 removed from the trail of the ordinary hunter, the mountain-goat, solitary in its 

 habits, and contented with its chaotic and gloomy surroundings, increases and 

 multiplies." 



Although chiefly a mountain animal, this species is occasionally 

 observed close to the sea-level, and has even been seen swimming salt- 

 water estuaries or rivers. Such occurrences are, however, rare ; and, as a rule, the 

 Rocky Mountain goat lives above or close to the upper limits of forests. But when 

 driven by hunger, these animals sometimes descend to lower levels in the forest, 

 while they will not unfrequently traverse the lowlands separating one mountain or 

 range from another. During the pairing-season in November and in the middle 

 of winter they are gregarious, although not markedly so at other seasons of the 

 year. As might be inferred, from their short and clumsy limbs, these animals have 

 but little speed ; and when disturbed they move leisurely off, trusting rather to 

 concealment behind sheltering rocks than in rapidity of pace. Formerly the Rocky 

 Mountain goat was much hunted by the Indians for the sake of its fleece, but now 

 that the demand for blankets made from its wool has well-nigh ceased, the pursuit 

 itself has been abandoned in many districts. 



Although extremely agile among its native mountains, the Rocky Mountain 

 goat, in spite of many statements to the contrary, does not appear to be a very 

 wary animal. Indeed, Mr. Fannin states that it is, perhaps, the most stupid 

 animal in the mountains, and little or no skill is required in hunting it. The great 

 difficulty is in reaching the almost inaccessible places which it usually inhabits. 

 The best time for hunting is in September and October, before the rainy season 

 sets in, although the skins are not in their best condition till later on. In colora- 

 tion this animal is unique among Ruminants ; and is, indeed, . one of the few 

 mammals that are white at all seasons. Its white coat is admirably adapted to 

 harmonise with the snows of its highest haunts, but would seem to be conspicuous 

 when the animal is among dark rocks or on its grazing-grounds. 



The Chamois. 



Genus Rapicapra. 



The last representative of the goat-like antelopes is the well-known chamois or 

 gemse {Rwpicapixi tragus), of the mountains of Europe, readily distinguished from 

 all the others by the short and cylindrical black horns rising for a considerable 

 distance vertically from the forehead, and then bending sharply backwards and 

 downwards in a hook-like manner. The chamois is a strongly-built animal, with 

 relatively long and stout limbs, and a very short stumpy tail; in height it stands 

 about 2 feet at the withers. The hair is close and rather long, with a thick 

 woolly under-fur. During the winter the general colour is a chestnut-brown, paler 

 on the face and under-parts, and there is a well-marked brown streak extending 

 from below the eye nearly to the corner of the mouth ; the tail being black. In 



