THE CHAMOIS GOAT. 



The Chamois is of the fize of the tame Goat, to which it approximates 

 in feveral particulars. Its head is embellimed with two flender, black horns, 

 riling from the centre of the forehead, to the height of fix inches; but inftead 

 of reclining backwards, like thofe of other animals, they Hand forward, 

 being only recurved at their extremities, which are remarkably acute. The 

 polition of the ears is extremely graceful. Exclulive of two black ftripes, 

 that defcend from the horns to the fides of the face, the colour of the head 

 is a yellowifh white; the body of a brown, or dutky red; and the belly 

 tinged with yellow: the length of the tail is inconfiderable, and its colour 

 fable on the under furface; the hoofs are lhort and goat-like, and the upper 

 lip is a little divided. A variety, probably that of fex, has been obferved, in 

 which the cheeks and chin are of a dufky hue, and the forehead white. This 

 quadruped is univerfally admired for the roundnefs, vivacity, and penetration 

 of its eye; and its fcent and hearing are fo exquifitely fine, that it will 

 difcover a man at the diftance of half a league, provided the wind blows in a 

 favourable direction. 



The Chamois fele&s the molt tender buds, delicate flowers, and aromatic 

 herbs for its food; particularly the genipay and carline thiftle, which, being 

 the hotter! productions of the Alps, are well adapted to the warmth of its 

 conftitution ; yet it is fo greatly incommoded by the beams of the fun, that 

 it is only to be feen at pafture previoully to the riflng of that luminary, or in 

 the cool of the evening. During the fummer it frequents the excavated 

 rocks that are lined with eternal fnows, or the tail forefts which crown 

 the northern fides of the rugged mountains. In the depth of winter it feeks 

 a retreat, from the falls of the avalanches, in the lower thickets, or caverns, 

 where it fubfifts on fuch llender twigs of trees, roots, or tender bufhes, as 

 it can find beneath the furface of the fnow. When it feeds upon fucculent 

 herbage, it drinks but Sparingly, and ruminates at intervals like the common 

 Goat. 



Each herd is faid to have a leader, who commonly takes his ftation on 

 fome commanding fpot, while his followers are at food, and faithfully 

 performs the duty of a fentinel. If he either hears or fmells any thing 



