3B4 THEWILDGOAT, &c. 



from the fummits into the plains. Neither 

 of them can fupport themfelvcs on fmooth 

 fheets of ice ; but, when the ice is rendered 

 rough by the fuow, they run and bound with 

 great firmnefs and agility. The chafe of thofe 

 animals *, efpecially that of the wild he- goat, 



is 



* There are two kinds of bucks ; fome are called nvild 

 bucks., and others jjfarus or farris. The wild bucks are as large 

 as a flag ; but, though they have as much fielh, they are 

 neither fo long, nor make fuch great bounds. The years of 

 their age correfpond with the number of rings which encircle 

 their horns. — When old, their horns, which have no branches, 

 are as thick as a man's leg. They never cafi: their horns : 

 but they continue to grow in length and thicknefs as long as 

 the animal lives. They have a large beard, and their hair 

 is brown like that of the wolf. A black bar runs along 

 their back and down the buttocks. Their belly is yellow, and 

 theirlegs black, and yellow behind. Their feet, like thofe of 

 the domeflic goat, are cloven ; and their tracks are large, 

 and rounder than thofe of the flag. The female, like that of 

 the hind, or common fhe-goat, produces but one at a time. 



The bucks feed upon herbage like other cattle. Their 



dung refembles that of the domeflic goat. They come in 

 feafon about All-Saints-day, and their rutting feafon con- 

 tinues a month. When that feafon is over, they are much e- 

 maciated ; and they defcend from the rocks and mountains, 

 where they had dwelt during the fummer, to the plains, in 

 <jueft of food. They remain at the foot of the mountains, 

 till toward Eafter, when they return to the mofl elevated 

 places they can find, and each takes poffeflion of his bufh, 

 like the flags. The females, at this period, feparate from the 

 males, and retire near the brooks, in order to fawn, where 

 they remain during the fummer. When the bucks are thus 

 feparated from the females, efpecially at the approach of the 

 rutting feafon, they attack both man and beafr. They alfo 

 fight among themfelves, like the flags, but in a different 



manner ; 



