THE CHAMOIS. 



7-3 



that man's presence at times causes it no fear. 



A well-known traveler relates that once when 

 camping at a certain place, during the preparation 

 of the noonday meal, one of these great birds 

 suddenly alighted near by, and walking up to the 

 kettle, thrust its foot into it and endeavored to 

 drag out a leg of mutton which was being 

 cooked. The boiling water, however, was a great 

 surprise to it ; it let go its hold, and flew away a 

 short distance to ruminate over the warm recep- 

 tion it had met with. Not satisfied with its re- 

 pulse, it soon returned again, and, unmindfid of 

 the different persons sitting around seized upon 

 another piece of meat that was lying almost in 

 their midst, and was killed in the act of carrying 

 it away. 



Its actions are ungraceful, and it appears to 

 disadvantage when on the ground, although it 

 walks well, and it is only when launched in its 

 native element, the air, that it moves with grace 

 and freedom. Behold it now, as on outstretched 

 wings it sails majestically along, ascending at 

 times above the snow-capped peaks of the 

 mighty Alps, gazing with undimmed eye even at 

 the fierce light of the noonday sun, or searching, 

 with penetrating gaze, every spot upon the rug- 

 ged mountain-side where perchance an animal 

 might find a resting-place, which by some sudden 

 stoop it might seize in its talons, and bear away, 

 to satisfy for a moment its voracious ai^petite. 

 Hardly a flap is needed of those mighty wings to 

 bear it onward, and the rudder-like tail, by almost 

 imperceptible movements, guides its swift course. 

 Monarch of those airy fastnesses is it, and as it 

 glides above the glistening lakes that mirror its 

 passing form, or looks down upon the valleys 

 nestling at the feet of the towering mountains far, 

 far beneath, it seems to rejoice in its pride of 



strength and in its freedom, and screams forth at 

 intervals a shrill cry of exultation. But suddenly 

 its onward flight is arrested, for the quick eye lias 

 discerned something, and it seems to consider 

 spme course of action as it makes a few uncer- 

 tain movements. 



Springing lightly along the side of an almost 

 inaccessible cliff, jumping from point to point, and 

 alighting often upon ledges so narrow that even 

 the slender hoofs hardly find space to rest, a 

 Chamois with her single young is seeking a bet- 

 ter pasturing ground. The little thing follows 

 closely in the rear of its only protector, imitating 

 all her movements, and jumping at one and 

 the same time, at the apparent imminent risk of 

 dislodging both, and of falling headlong into the 

 awful abyss beneath. Yet nothing can be surer 

 than their foot-hold, and although tlie Kid has 

 seen but a few short weeks of life, it traverses the 

 difficult rocks as easily as though it possessed the 

 practice and experience of many summers, and 

 seems to feel as secure as if no precipice yawned 

 beneath, and no deadly foe soared above. 



Wlio so watchful as a mother.' Even as she 

 springs to a somewhat wider ledge, ever on her 

 guard that no harm should overtake her young, 

 she spies the mighty bird, checking its course, 

 and prepares to resist the attack which she knows 

 so well her enemy is meditating. With raised 

 head and outstretched nostrils she breathes defi- 

 ance, and impatiently strikes the ground with her 

 fore-foot, while the little one, apprised by its 

 mother's movements that danger is near, cowers 

 behind and partly beneath her. Ah, that tender 

 creature would be a fine prize for the Lammer- 

 geyer to bear away to some lofty crag and tear in 

 pieces at its leisure, and it does not long hesitate 

 to attempt its capture. 



