THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT 3 
rarely visited either by Indians or by white 
hunters. As a result, when first shot at they 
were not excited and were slow to run away. 
This procrastination of the goat while under 
fire, together with his supremely crude outlines 
and slow, awkward actions, led most early hunt- 
ers and trappers to call him a stupid animal. 
But he is not at all stupid. Evidence of his 
alertness and mental development is shown in 
his curiosity and in his ability to readjust him- 
self promptly to new dangers. 
In localities where he was unacquainted with 
man the goat apparently made no effort to 
guard against enemies or to use sentinels. But 
promptly after the coming of hunters and long- 
range rifles he became extremely wary and 
sought look-out resting places of safety and had 
sentinels on duty. He is thoroughly wide- 
awake at all times. When surprised in close 
quarters he shows no confusion or panic, and 
retreats in a masterly manner. If one route of 
retreat is blocked he starts for another without 
losing his head. If finally cornered, he makes a 
stand. 
Hunters and dogs cornered an old billy near 
me in the head of a glacial cirque, in what is 
now the Glacier National Park. The goat 
made his stand on slide rock at the bottom of 
a precipitous wall. He watched for an oppor- 
