230 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



female is not nearly so high), the male Tahr has a pair of horns 

 which, measured along the curve, attain a length of from twelve 

 to fifteen inches, those possessed by the doe being several inches 

 less. 



It is among the elevated forest regions of the Himalayas that this 

 species makes its home, and it is in the habit of frequenting such 

 precipitous spots that the sportsman, having shot his quarry, often 

 has the mortification of seeing it fall down a precipice from which 

 it is impossible to obtain it unless at very grave risk. It revels in 

 steep hillsides clothed with trees, and traverses almost perpendicular 

 slopes where it would seem no animal could possibly obtain a foot- 

 hold. During the Summer the adult male keeps apart from the 

 females as a general rule, but later in the year the breeding season 

 brings the two sexes together, a single young one being born the 

 following Summer. 



CHAMOIS. — With the exception of the Saiga Antelope found in 

 Russia, the Chamois (Fig. 184) is the only kind of Antelope which 

 is an inhabitant of Europe, and as a sporting animal is much sought 

 after by those who take pleasure in the chase. The Chamois is not 

 found outside Europe, belonging to a group of Antelopes which 

 frequent high mountain ranges where the stalker has to exercise 

 considerable prowess before he obtains his quarry. In the Alps it is 

 known as the Gems, whilst in the Pyrenees it goes under the name 

 of Izard. 



Both male and female possess horns, and both resemble one 

 another in general appearance. The horns are black in colour and 

 smooth in structure. They are straight for the most part, but 

 towards the tip they curve abruptly backwards into a hook. It 

 attains a height of about two feet at the shoulder, and the body is 

 clothed underneath with thick wool, over this being a layer of hair 

 which is brown in Summer and black in Winter. The coat is 

 longer during the cold season than the hot weather, but whilst the 

 Chamois appears to be quite impervious to the cold, it cannot 

 tolerate heat a little bit. 



Goat-like in many respects, and classed as such by some 

 Zoologists, this interesting beast does not possess a beard, and when 

 the hunter wishes to have a trophy "a tuft of the hair which grows 

 along the back " is taken. It is undoubtedly due in a large measure 

 to the excitement of the chase, the bravado it calls forth, and the 

 high altitudes at which it is found that so much attention has been 



