CHAPTER XL

ANIMALS OF THE ALPINE REGIONS—THE CHAMOIS, THE MARMOT, THE LYNX , AND THE

GOAT-THE EAGLE-THE LAMMERGEYER.

In the elevated districts of the Alps, as well as the Pyrenees , the chamois dwells insmall herds, cropping the herbage of the mountain-sides. The size of this animal isequal to that of a large goat; its colour is of a dark chesnut brown, with the exceptionof the forehead, the sides of the lower jaw, and the muzzle, which are white. Its horns,rising just above the eyes, are black, smooth, and straight, for two-thirds of their length,when they suddenly curve backwards in a hook. Its hoofs are admirably adapted toavail themselves of any little roughness or projection, either of the naked granite, or theicy glacier ; and its hair is thick, long, and coarse, serving not only as a defence againstcold, hut as a provision against the bruises to which the chamois is constantly liable.

These animals have often been seen when feeding, in the morning or the evening, onthe green slopes, with their young ones gambolling like playful kids. But, as Wernisays:—

“-beasts have reason too—

- - And that wo know, we men that hunt the chamois :

They never turn to feed—sagacious creatures!—

• - - Till they have placed a sentinel a-head,

■ _ Who pricks his ears whenever wo approach,

And gives alarm with clear and piercing pipe.” *

Only let man or beast of prey appear, and he makes a loud hissing noise, as awarning of danger; the herd now gaze intently, as if to satisfy themselves there is nodeceit; when, this fact being established, they bound from ledge to ledge, where the eyecan mark no footing, spring from crag to crag, from point to point, clearing the crevasse,sweeping over the glacier, throwing themselves down the precipice, and finding safetywhere death would seem to be inevitable.

A hunter had been for some days endeavouring to discover the haunt of one of theseanimals, and at length he saw two little ones sporting around the mother, in a niche atthe top of a high rock, while she was glancing warily down the valley, to watch for anyhostile approach. To avoid being seen, he made a great circuit, and so reached a pathwhich led to the spot. Exactly in front of the niche the rocks descend perpendicularlyto an immense depth. At the back was another steep descent; some fragments of rocksre-formed a kind of bridge between the large masses ; but these were placed too high tobe accessible to the little ones, and could only be available to the mother.* Escape,therefore, seemed to be impossible.

No sooner did the mother, however, catch sight of the hunter than she sprang uponhim with all the fury that maternal love will breathe into the most timid creatures. As

Schiller.