158 
PASSIONAL 200L0GY. 
CHAMOIS HUNTING IN THE ALPS. 
The hunter must have an excellent constitution to enable him to 
bear the extreme of cold after being heated by exercise, sleeping 
on the damp ground, hunger and thirst, and every other hardship 
and privation. He must have great muscular strength, to climb 
all day with a heavy gun, ammunition, and provisions, and the 
game he kills ; he must have a keen sight, a steady foot and head, 
and patience equal to his courage. 
Chamois goats are very fearful, and their sense of smell and 
sight being most acute, it is frequently difficult to approach them. 
They are sometimes hunted with dogs, but oftener without, as dogs 
drive them to places where it is difficult to follow. When a dog 
is used, he is led silently to the track, which he never will after- 
ward lose, the scent being very strong. The hunter either lies in 
wait in some narrow pass through which the game will most prob- 
al>ly take its flight, or follows his dog, with which he keeps pace 
l)y taking a straight direction, but calls him back when he judges 
the, chamois to be inclined to lie down to rest. An old male will 
frequently turn against the dog, when pursued, and while keeping 
him at bay, allows the hunter to approach near him. 
Hunters, two or three in company, generally proceed without 
dogs. They carry a sharp hoe to cut steps in the ice, each his rifle, 
hooks to be fastened to his shoes, a mountain stick with a point of 
iron, a short spy-glass, barley cakes, cheese, and brandy made with 
gentian or cherries. Sleeping the first night at some of those huts 
which are left open at all times, and always provided with a little 
dry wood for a fire, they reach their hunting grounds at daylight. 
The utmost w^atchfulness and patience are requisite on the part 
of the hunter when approaching his game ; a windw'ard situation 
would infallibly betray him by the scent. He creeps on from one 
hiding rock to another, with his shirt over his clothes, and lies mo- 
tionless in the snow, often for half an hour together, when the 
herd appears alarmed and near taking flight. Whenever he is 
near enough to distinguish the bending of the horns, that is, about 
the distance of two hundred or two hundred and fifty steps, he 
