Book 4-Lesson 20

LESSON 20
THE CHAMOIS
THE graceful chamois is found in all the mountains of Europe which bound
the valley of the Danube, both on the north and on the south. As, however, it
prefers the cold air of the highest mountains, it makes Switzerland its chief
home.
In general appearance, its head and body are not unlike those of the goat;
but it has a more slender neck, and no beard; and its horns are black and stand
erect, being curved into hocks only at the tips.
The chamois is not only very swift of foot, but very sure-footed. Its cupshaped
and sharp-edged hoofs have been specially made for the mountains on
which it loves to dwell. It makes its way up and down the face of very steep
rocks. It bounds swiftly from crag to crag, springing fearlessly on to the top of
the sharpest rocks, if only it can find room to place its four feet close together.
The flesh of the chamois is considered a great dainty(1) by the Swiss; and its
skin, when tanned, is the fine soft leather which is called after it, chamoisleather.
Chamois-hunting is a favourite pursuit in Switzerland. The sport is attended
with very great peril. The hunter has often to spend days and nights alone upon
the mountains. He has to pass over the most dangerous rocks and precipices, and
often his rashness costs him his life.
The chamois has the greatest affection for her young; and when the yare in
danger, she shows wonderful sagacity in planning means for their escape.
A Swiss hunter, while pursuing his dangerous sport observed a mother
chamois and her two kids on a rock above him. They were sporting by her side,
leaping here and there around her.
The hunter, climbing the rock, drew near, intending, if possible, to capture
one of the kids alive. No sooner did the mother chamois observe him, than,
dashing at him furiously with her horns, she endeavoured to hurl him down the
cliff. The hunter drove her off, fearing to fire, lest the young ones should take to
flight. He was aware that there was a deep chasm(2) beyond, by which he believed
the escape of the animals to be cut off. What was his surprise, therefore, when he
saw the old chamois form with her body a bridge across the chasm, which she
could just span by stretching out her fore and hind legs! As soon as she had done
this, she called on her young ones; and they sprang one at a time on her back,
and reached the other side in safety! She sprang across after them, and was soon
beyond reach of the hunter's bullets.

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(1) Dainty, something very nice; a delicacy.
(2) Chasm, a deep opening, or cleft, between two rocks.