CHAPTER VI
THE MOUNTAIN GOAT

Tuts quaint, interesting animal, though called a goat, is
no more entitled to that name than the Takins, Serows,
and Gorals. It does not belong to the Caprinw, which
family comprise the Markors, Ibex, and all other true
goats, but to the sub-family Rupicaprine, which includes
those first mentioned. Its proper name is Oreamus
montana, but as it is usually called a goat on this continent,
that name will be adhered to in this book.

Its appearance is most extraordinary. It is a heavy,
slab-sided, ungainly animal, with what appear to be
humps on the top of its shoulders and hips. Not by the
greatest stretch of imagination could anything of beauty
or grace be discovered in it, unless it is in the coat after
the animal is dead and after it has been thoroughly cleaned.
A full-grown male goat will stand from forty to forty-two
inches at the shoulder, and, if very fat, will weigh over
three hundred pounds. The pelage is pure white, but for
the greater part of the year it is somewhat stained with
earth, and in summer is often quite brown from frequent
dust baths. In early spring goats shed their hair to a
greater or lesser extent, according to the age and sex of
the animal. Some old billies lose almost all their hair,
the nannies not nearly so much unless they are extremely
advanced in years. As soon as the coat is shed they
become thin, ragged, miserable-looking beasts, and some
of them must suffer from the cold rains. Gradually a
coating of wool begins to make its appearance, and at the
first approach of winter this wool is covered by a rapid
growth of long hair. The hair extends down the legs to

below the knees and hocks in such a manner as to give
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