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[Kntkbkd at th» PotrrOrricK. in Atlanta, Georgia, fob transportation through the Uwitkd Btatiqb Mailh at 8bcond Class Rates.]
ATLANTA, GA., JULY 15, 1882.
of announcing danger, to his friends, but
also of indicating the direction from which
it proceeds. Facts of this nature, of which
there are abundance on record, prove that
although the sound of animals’ voices ap
pear to us to be without any definite sig
nification, yet they possess the capability of
communicating ideas to others of the same
species. When their attention is aroused
by anything suspicions, they have a habit
of gazing fixedly in the direction of the
trained to climb the giddy heights of the
Alpine mountains, to traverse the most
fearful precipices with a quiet and steady
head, to exist for days amid the terrible
solitudes of ice, roclc and snow, and to sus
tain almost every imaginable hardship in
the pursuit of their game,—only these or in
very rare instances those who have a natu
ral aptitude for the sport, and in conse
quence, are soon initiated into its necessary
accomplishments, can hope even to oome
The Chamois.
Goat-like in aspect, and very hircine in
many habits, the chamois is often supposed
to belong to the goats rather than to the
Antelopes. It is however, a true antelope,
and may readily be distinguished from any
of its relations by the peculiar form of horns,
which rise straight from the top of the head
for some inches, and then suddenly.curve
backwards, so as to form a
pair of sharp hooks. Formerly
this animal was reported to
employ these ornaments in
aiding itself to ascend or de
scend the frightful precipices
on which it dwells. This opin
ion is, however, entirely erro
neous. In descending a preci
pitous rock, the chamois is
greatly aided by the false hoofs
of the hinder feet, which it
hitches upon every little irreg
ularity in the stony surface,
and which seems to retard its
progress as it slides downward,
guided by the sharp hoofs of
the fore-feet, which are placed
closely together, and pushed
well in advance of the body.
Thus flattened against the rock,
the chamois slides downwards
until it comes to a ledge broad
enough to permit it to repose
for a while before descending
further. In this manner the
active creature will not hesi
tate to descend some twenty or
thirty yards along the face of
an almost perpendicular cliff,
being sure to make good its
footing on the first broad
ledge that may present itself.
Although it is a very swift
animal when upon level
ground, and unsurpassed in
traversing the precipitous Al
pine passes of its native home,
it makes but poor progress upon
smooth ice, and in spite of its
sharply-pointed hoofs, slip and
slide about on the glassy sur
face as awkwardly as any other
animal. Thu chamois is one of
the most wury of antelopes,
and possesses the power of
scenting mankind at an ulmost
incredible distance. Kvun the
old and half obliterated foot
marks which a man lias made
in the snow are sufficient to
startle the sensitive senses of
this uuimal, which 1ms been
observed to stop in mid career
down a mountain side, and
bound away at right auglcs to
its former course, merely be
cause it lmd come across the
tracks which had been left by
the steps of some mountain
traveler. Like all animals
which live in herds, however
small, they always depute one
of their number to act as sen
tinel. They are not, however,
dependent on the vigilance of their picket,
but are always on the alert to take alarm at
the least suspicious scent, sight or sound, 1
and to communicate their fears to their
comrades by a peculiar warning whistle. As
soon as this sign is heard, the entire herd
takes to flight. It is worthy of notice, that
the sentinel must possess the power, not only
ble rock, and taking advantage of every lit
tle projection, to add impetus to its prog
ress. Even when standing still it is able to
mount to a higher position without leaping.
It stands erect on its hindlegs, places its
fore feet on some narrow shelf of rock, and
by a sudden exertion, draws its whole body
upon the ledge, where it stands secure.
The food of the chamois consists of the
various herbs which grow upon the moun
tains, and in the winter season it finds its
nourishment on the buds of
sundry trees, mostly of an
aromatic nature, such as the
fir, plno and juniper. In con
sequence of this diet the flesh
assumes arather powerful odor,
which is decidedly repulsive
to the palates of some persons,
while others seem to appreciate
the peculiar flavor and to
value it as highly as the mod
ern gourmand appreciates the
gamey flavor of long kept
venison. The skin is largely
employed in the manufacture
of a certain leather, which is
widely famous for its soft,
though tough character. The
color of the chamois is yellow
ish brown, upon the greater
portion ofthe body, the spinal
line being marked with a black
streak. In the winter months
the fur darkeus and becomes
blackish-brown. The face,
cheeks and throat are of a yell-
lowish-white hue, diversied by
a dark brownish-black band,
which passes from the corner
of the mouth to the eyes, when
It suddenly dilates and forms
a nearly perfect ring around
the eyes. The horns aro jet
black and highly polished, espe
cially towards the tips, whicli
are extremely sharp. There
are several obscure rings on the
busal portions,and their entire
surface is marked with longi
tudinal lines.
Several varieties of the cha
mois arc recorded, but the dis
tinction between them lie only
in the comparative length of
tho horns und the hue of the
coat. The full-grown chamois
is rather more than two feet in
Height, and the hornB are from
six to eight inches long.
SAVED BY ITS MOTHER.
object which has excited their alirm, and
will remain still as if carved out of the very
rock on which they stand, halting in one
fixed attitude for an almost incredible length
of'time, Their ears are as acute as their
nostrils, so that there are very few animals
which are more difficult to approach than
the chamois. Only those who have been
within long rifle range of a chamois when
the animal is at large upon its native cliffs.
As the hind legs exceed the fore limbs in
length, tho chamois is better fitted for the
ascent of steep ground than descending, and
never exhibit its wonderful power with such
success as when it is leaping lightly and rap
idly up the face of an apparently inaccessi-
Bmdslreet in his June report
says: “In tolation to all the
principal cotton states except
Texas, thu evidence now in
hand points to an increase in
the percentage of reduction
were any change to be made.
The evidence is so strong as to
fairly put beyond controversy
the conclusion that the need
of cultivating the provision
crops to a greater extent has
for once, at least, taken pos
session of the South. The
ground under tillage has, of course, been in
creased, but this increase, together with 6
per cent, of the land given over to cotton
last year, has been put into the small grains.
Cheerfulness is an excellent wearing qual-.
ily, And has been called the bright weather
of the heart.
1u J ONK DOLLAR
•NO. 18. j A YEAR.
PUBLISHED 1 TrrvT T
TWICE A MONTH.; VOL. 1.