THE CHAMOIS, 173 
observed to stop in mid career down a mountain side, and to bound away 
at right angles to its former course, merely because it had come across 
the track which had been left by the steps of some mountain traveller. Like 
all animals which live in herds, however small, they always depute one of 
their number to act as sentinel. They are not, however, entirely dependent 
on the vigilance of their picket, but are always on the alert to take alarm at 
the least suspicious scent, sight, or sound, and to communicate their fears to 
their comrades by a peculiar warning whistle. As soon as this sound is 
heard, the entire herd take to flight. 
Their ears are as acute as their nostrils, so that there are few animals which 
are more difficult of approach than the Chamois. Only those who have 
been trained to climb the giddy heights of the Alpine mountains, to traverse 
the most fearful precipices with a quiet pulse and steady head, to exist 
for days amid the terrible solitudes of ice, rock, and snow, and to sustain 
almost every imaginable hardship in the pursuit of their game,—only these, 
or in very rare instances those who have a natural aptitude for the sport, and 
are, in consequence, soon initiated into its requisite accomplishments, can 
hope even to come within long rifle range of a Chamois when the animal is at 
large upon its native cliffs. 
The food of the Chamois consists of the various herbs which grow upon the 
mountains, and in the winter season it finds its nourishment on the buds of 
sundry trees, mostly of an aromatic nature, such as the fir, pine, and juniper. 
In consequence of this diet the flesh assumes a rather powerful odour, 
which is decidedly repulsive to the palates of some persons, while others 
seem to appreciate the peculiar flavour, and to value it as highly as the 
modern gourmand appreciates the “gamey” flavour of long-kept venison. 
The skin is largely employed in the manufacture of a certain leather, 
which is widely famous for its soft though tough character. The colour of 
the Chamois is yellowish brown upon the greater portion of the body, the 
spinal line being marked with a black streak. In the winter months the fur 
darkens and becomes blackish brown. The face, cheeks, and throat are of a 
yellowish white hue, diversified by a dark brownish black band which passes 
from the corner of the mouth to the eyes, when it suddenly dilates and forms 
a nearly perfect ring round the eyes. The horns are jetty black and highly 
polished, especially towards the tips, which are extremely sharp. There are 
several obscure rings on the basal portions, and their entire surface is marked 
with longitudinal lines. 
Several varieties of the Chamois are recorded, but the distinctions between 
them lie only in the comparative length of the horns and the hue of the coat. 
The full-grown Chamois is rather more than two feet in height, and the hurns 
are from six to eight inches long. 
OF all the Antelopes, the GNOO presents the most extraordinary conforma- 
tion. At the first sight of this curious animal the spectator seems to doubt 
whether it is a horse, a bull, or an Antelope, as it appears to partake nearly 
equally of the nature of these three animals. 
The Gnoos, of which there are several species, may be easily recognized 
by the fierce-looking head, their peculiarly shaped horns, which are bent 
downwards and then upwards again with a sharp curve, by their broad nose, 
and long hair-clad tail. They live together in considerable herds, often 
mixing with zebras, ostriches, and giraffes, in one huge army of living beings. 
In their habits they are not unlike the wild cattle which have already been 
described. Suspicious, timid, curious of disposition, and irritable of temper, 
they display these mingled qualities in a very ludicrous manner whenever 
they are alarmed by a strange object. 
“They commence whisking their long white tails,” says Cumming, “in a 
