3S3 THE WILD GOAT, &c. 



ns, fccms to indicate, that the chamois fkins 

 were at that time the chief article of their cor/> 



merce ; 



The food he ufes feems to announce the heat of his conftitu- 

 tion. This animal is admired for his large round eyes, 

 whole fire correfponds with the vivacity of his difpofition. 

 His head is adorned with two fmall horns, from half a foot 

 to nine inches in length. Their colour is a fine black, and 

 they are placed on the front nearly between his eyes ; and, in- 

 stead, of being reflected backward, like thofe of other animals, 

 they advance forward above the eyes, and bend backward at 

 the points, which are extremely {harp He adjufts his ears 

 moft beautifully to the points of his horns. Two tufts of 

 black hair defcend from the horns to the fides of his face. 

 The reft of the head is of a ye'lowim white colour, which 

 never changes. The horns of the chamois are ufed for the 

 heads of canes. Thofe of the female are fmaller and le-fs 

 crooked. The {kin of the chamois, when dreffed, is very 

 lirong, nervous, and fupple, and makes excellent riding 

 breeches, gloves, and veils. Garments of this kind la!l. long, 

 and are of great ufe to manufacturers. The chamois is a na- 

 tive of cold countries, and always prefers rugged rocks and 

 lofty places. They frequent the Avoods ; but it is only thole 

 in the higher regions of the mountains. Thefe woods con- 

 hit of pines, larches, and beeches. The chamois gnats are fo 

 impatient of heat, that, in fummer, they are only to be found 

 under the {hades of caverns iri the rocks, among maifes of 

 congealed mew and ice, or in elevated Fortfts on the northern 

 declivities of the moil fcabrous mountains, where the rays of 



inn Mdom penetrate. They pa Dure in the mornings 



and evenings, and feldom during the day. They tra\ 



the rocks and precipices with great facility, where the dogs 



dare not follow them. There is nothing more .worthy ol ad- 



. to fee thefi animals climbing or defcendmg 



iftac i • . ,; 'hey neither mount nor defcend perpendi- 



t in an oblique line. \\ h -n defcendmg, partieu- 



; . es down across a rock, which is near- 



sr'pei iciiiaf, and 6f Went? or thirty ieet in heigh'', with- 

 out 



