THE CHAMOIS. 



THE Chamois is a kind of Antelope, but 

 very much like a Goat. They are getting 

 very scarce. The men who hunt them are a 

 brave and hardy race, and not unfrequently lose 

 their lives in the attempt to follow some fine 

 specimen. As to the animals themselves, when 

 pressed they will leap onto spots where it might 

 be supposed there was not room for one of their 

 hoofs. They have been known to jump down a 

 precipice, and hide tliemselves in deep cracks 

 and splits in the mountains, from which it would 

 seem they would never be able to get out. Their 

 flesh is considered a delicacy, but very often wlien 

 you think you are eating a joint of splendid 

 Chamois, you are, in point of fact, enjoying a 

 slice of common domestic Goat, which bears the 

 same likeness to Chamois that a haunch of in- 

 ferior mutton bears to a haunch of fine venison. 

 This agile inhabitant of the lofty Alps shows 

 the greatest affection for her young. A Swiss 

 hunter while pursuing his dangerous sport, ob- 

 served a mother Chamois and her two Kids on a 

 rock above him. They were sporting by Ii«r side, 

 leaping here and there around her. While she 

 watched their gambols, she was ever on the alert 

 least an enemy should approach. 



The hunter, climbing the rock, drew near, in- 

 tending, if possible, to capture one of tlie Kids 

 alive. No sooner did the mother Chamois observe 

 him, than, dashing at him furiously, she endeav- 

 ored to hurl him with her horns down the cliff. 

 The hunter, knowing that he might kill her at 

 any moment, drove her off, fearing to fire, lest 

 the young ones should take to flight. 



He was aware that a deep chasm existed be- 

 yond them, by which he believed the escape of 

 the animals to be cut off. What was his surprise, 

 therefore, when he saw the old Chamois approach 

 the chasm, and, stretching out her fore and hind 

 legs, thus form with her body a bridge across it ! 



As soon as she had done this, she called on her 

 young ones, and they sprang, one at a time, on 

 her back, and reached the other side in safety ! 

 By a violent effort, she sprang across after. them, 

 and soon conducted her charges beyond the 

 reach of the hunter's bullets. 



Besides the hunter, the Chamois has also another 

 formidable enemy in the Lammergeyer which be- 

 longs to the Vulture family. Its spread of wing 

 and powers of flight are great ; and this bandit of 

 the air does not hesitate to attack any object that is 

 suitable for food which it may see. So bold is it 

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