T H E W I L D G O A T, &c. 387 



now fo frequent as formerly. The term Chd- 

 moi/wrS) which was applied to all traiifporters of 



B b 2 ildns, 



of bleating, refemblihg that of a hoarfe domeflic goat. It is 

 by tliis bleating that they collect together, particularly the mo- 

 thers and their young. But, when alarmed, or when they per- 

 ceive an enemy, or any thing the nature of which they can- 

 not diffinguifh, they advertife one another by a kind of whitt- 

 ling noife, which 1 (hall afterwards defcribe. The fight o£ 

 the chamois is very penetrating, and his fenfe of fmelling is 

 acute. When be fees a man diftinctly, he ftops for fome 

 time, and flies off when he makes a nearer approach. His 

 fenfe of hearing is equally acute as that of fmelling ; for he 

 hears the fmalleft noife. When the wind blows in the direc- 

 tion between him and a man, he will percieve the fcent at the 

 diftance of more than half a league. Hence, when he fmells 

 or hears any thing which he cannot fee, he whiffles or blows 

 with fuch force, that the rocks and forefls re-eccho the 

 found. If there are many of them near, they all take the 

 alarm. This whiffling is as long as the animal can blow» 

 without taking breath. It is at rirfl fharp, and turns flat to- 

 wards the end. The chamois then ffops for a moment, looks 

 round on all fides, and begins whiffling afrefh, which he con- 

 tinues from time to time. His agitation is extreme. He ftrikes 

 the earth with his feet. He leaps upon the highefl ftones he can 

 find : He again looks round, leaps from one place to an- 

 other, and, when he difcovers any thing, he flies off. The 

 Whittling of the male is {harper than that of the female. This 

 whiffling is performed through the noftrils, and conlifts of a 

 ftrong blowing, fimilar to the found which a man may make 

 by fixing his tongue to the palate, with his teeth nearly fhut, 

 his lips open, and fomewhat extended, and blowing long and 

 With great force. The chamois feeds on the tineft heibs. He 

 felecls the mofl delicate parts of plants, as the flowers and the 

 tendered buds. He is very fond of fome aromatic herbs, 

 particularly cf' the carline thiflle and genipay, which are the 

 hotteif plants that grow in the Alps. When he eats green 

 herbs, he drinks very little. He is very fond of the leaves and 

 tender buds of flirubs. He ruminates like the common goat. 



The 



