38 
WILD GOAT. 
of smelling in the highest perfection. When the 
chamois is surprised by a person, he stops for a mo- 
ment, but immediately afterwards flies off, and is 
presently out of sight. Such is the timidity of this 
creature that he is constantly on the watch, and 
upon the least alarm begins his hissing note with 
such force that the rocks and forests, re-echo to the 
sound. The first hiss continues as long as one in- 
spiration. In the beginning it is very sharp, and 
deeper towards the close. The animal having, after 
the first alarm, reposed a moment, again looks round, 
and, perceiving the reality of his fears, continues 
to hiss by intervals, until he has spread the alarm 
to a very great distance. During this time he 
seems in the most violent agitation ; he strikes the 
ground with one of his fore feet, and sometimes 
with both : he bounds from rock to rock ; he turns 
and looks around, then runs to the edge of the pre- 
cipice, and, if he still perceives the enemy, flies 
with all his speed. The hissing of the male is 
much louder and sharper than that of the female ; 
it is performed through the nose ; and is nothing 
more than a very strong breath driven violently 
through a small aperture. 
The chamois is choice in his food, picking the 
most delicate parts of the herbage, and regaling 
upon the aromatic plants which are found upon the 
sides of the mountains. He drinks moderately, and 
chews the cud in the intervals of feeding. These 
animals are so much incommoded by heat, that in 
the summer they frequent the caverns of rocks, or 
