HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 73 



hifs continues as long as the time of one refpiration : In 

 the beginning, it is very (harp, and deeper towards the 

 clofe. The animal having, after this fir ft alarm, repofed 

 a moment, again looks round ; and, perceiving the reali- 

 ty of its fears, continues to hifs by intervals, until it has 

 fpread the alarm to a very great diftance. During this 

 time, it feems in the mod violent agitation ; it flrikes the 

 ground with one fore foot, and fometimes with both ; it 

 bounds from rock to rock, turns and looks round, runs 

 to the edge of the precipice, and, (till perceiving the ene- 

 my, flies with all its fpeed. The hilling of the male is 

 much louder and {harper than that of the female : It is 

 performed through the nofe, and is properly no more 

 than a very ftrong breath driven violently through a fmall 

 aperture. 



The Chamois feeds upon the bed herbage, and chufes 

 the moft delicate parts of the plants, the flowers, and the 

 tender buds. It is not lefs delicate with regard to feve- 

 ral aromatic herbs, which grow upon the fides of the 

 mountains. It drinks very little whilft it feeds upon the 

 fucculent herbage, and chews the cud in the intervals of 

 feeding. 



This animal is greatly admired for the beauty of its 

 eyes, which are round and fparkling, and mark the 

 warmth of its conftitution. Its head is furnifhed with 

 two fmall horns of about half a foot long, of a beau- 

 tiful black, rifing from the forehead almoft betwixt the 

 eyes : Thefe, contrary to thofe on aimed all other ani- 

 mals, inftead of going backwards or Tideways, fland for- 

 ward, and bend a little backward at their extremities, 

 ending in a very fharp point. The ears are placed in a 

 very elegant manner, near the horns; and there are two 

 ftripes of black on each ii.de of the face, the reft being 



