436 
THE STORY OF THE CHAMOIS. 
forth to* feed. Their chief food consists of lichens and the scanty mountain 
herbage. 
All who have seen chamois in their native haunts are agreed as to- their 
extreme agility and wariness; and their sure-footedness has become pro¬ 
verbial. When alarmed, they utter a shrill whistling sound, which at once 
sets the whole flock in rapid motion. A chamois is able to stand on the summit 
x>f a pinnacle of rock with all its four feet gathered into a space o>f the size 
of a silver half dollar. 
Their sight is very penetrating, and their sense of smelling and hearing 
is remarkably acute. When the wind blows in a proper direction, they are 
said to be able to scent a man at the distance of a mile or upwards. Their 
voice somewhat resembles that of a hoarse domestic goat; by means of this 
they are called together. When alarmed they adopt a different noise, and 
apprise each other by a kind of whistle. This the animal on watch continues 
as long as he can blow without taking breath; it is at first sharp, but flat¬ 
tens toward the conclusion. He then stops for a moment, looks round on all 
sides, and begins whistling afresh, which he continues from time to time. This 
is done with such force that the rocks and forests re-echo- the sound. 
His agitation is extreme. He strikes the earth with his feet. He leaps 
upon the highest stones he can find, again looks around, leaps from one place 
to another, and when he discovers anything seriously alarming flies off. This 
whistling is performed through the nostrils, and consists 'of a strong blowing, 
similar to- the sound which a man may make by fixing his tongue to- the 
palate, with his teeth nearly shut, his lips open and somewhat extended, and 
blowing long, and with great force. 
In appearance the chamois is an attractive animal. The whole body is 
covered with long hair, hanging down over the sides, of a deep-brown color 
in winter and brownish fawn-color in summer, being in spring slightly mixed 
with gray; the head is of a very pale yellow or straw-color, with a dark-brown 
band on each side, passing from the root of the ears to the corners of the 
mouth, and encircling the eyes and base of the horns; the tail is short and 
black, and the edges of the hips and interior of the thighs and ears alone 
white. The face is straight, as in the goat; the ears small, erect, and pointed; 
and the chin without a beard. In old individuals, particularly during the 
severe colds of winter, the cheeks, chin, and throat turn white, and the breast 
and belly are at all times of a light silvery brown or yellow. Underneath the 
external covering there is a short, thick coat of fine wool, which lies close 
to the skin, and protects the animal from the rigors of the cold mountain 
