THE ANTELOPES 109 



In the chamois the horns are about seven inches long, and are 

 curved backwards at the tip into a hook-Hke form. It was for- 

 merly supposed by naturalists that these horns were employed in 

 climbing, and that the animal was able by their help to raise itself 

 to ledges which would otherwise be out of its reach. But it has 

 now been proved that such is not the case. 



The chamois, indeed, is so wonderfully sure-footed that it does 

 not require any assistance from its horns. It can travel with 

 amazing speed along rocky ledges which no feet but its own may 

 tread, and can leap from crag to crag, or descend a precipitous cliff, 

 with the most perfect agility and ease. Its hinder limbs, which are 

 considerably longer than the front pair, assist it greatly in climb- 

 ing, while it can slide down the face of a rock, and check its course 

 whenever necessary, by the " false hoofs " of the hinder feet. 



In summer time, the chamois, which cannot endure great heat, 

 retreats to the upper heights of its mountainous home, and there 

 enjoys the cooler atmosphere. But when autumn begins to give 

 place to winter, it finds that its food-supply is running short, and 

 so descends again to lower levels. 



The chamois feeds upon many of the low shrubs and herbs 

 which grow in mountainous regions. It is very fond, too, of the 

 buds of trees, more particularly those of pines, firs, and juniper. 

 In such quantities, indeed, does it devour these, that its flesh 

 becomes so strongly tainted with their peculiar flavour that to 

 many people it is extremely unpalatable. 



As we may readily imagine from the character of its home, the 

 hunting of the chamois is a pursuit of the greatest difficulty, only 

 to be attempted by those of clear head and steady nerves, who 

 have been accustomed to face danger in various forms, and are 

 capable of enduring great hardships and privations. For the 

 chamois hunter may follow his quarry for days without success, 

 while a single false step may cause him to be dashed in pieces on 

 the rocks below. 



Few animals are more wary and cautious than the chamois. 

 Its senses are unusually keen, and it can detect a man both by 

 sight and by scent at a really astonishing distance. In order to 

 guard against the possibility of a surprise, it always places sentinels 



