New-York tribune., 1906-10-20

Sons 'p ''-'-i''
This is a book about hunting mountain goats
and sheep and grizzly bears, with gun and
camera, in the almost unexplored mountains of
British Columbia. Written in lively and pop
ular style. and abounding in thrilling adventure,
it is also a valuable contribution to the natural
history OF the region. and contains wise sugges-
tons Of notifications Of the existing game laws.
The author accompanied by Mr.. John NJ.
Phillips, State Game Commissioner Of PennsyI-
vania, two expert hunters and trappers as
guides. a scout, cook, and Kaiser, an intelli-
gent and efficient hunting dog. The scene Of the
party's activities was the Elk and Bull River
region OF East Kootenay, one Of the faVorite
habitats of the mountain goat. In their pursuit
of wild game. the author and his friends re-
stricted themselves TO a much smaller bag than
is allowed under the present regulations, which
Mr. Hornaday regards as much too liberal IN
their provisions. He considers that the big
game of British Columbia g public asset of
too great value to permit the possibility OF its
extinction and Of no less interest to American
sportsmen than to those across the Canadian
border.
Travelling with pack train through the fallen
Jack pines in the narrow valleys and on the
steep mountain sides of that trackless country
was no childs play, but the rewards in abundant
and exciting sport were well worth the effort
Mountain goats and big-horns were found in
great profusion, animals that were but little
suspicious OF and ignorant Of the signih-
canoe of the crack Of rife. Shortly after their
arrival within the district, indeed at their first
camp, Mr Phillips and the dog Kaiser had
twenty-eight goats and kids at bay on top OF a
precipice and were photograph phing them at the
risk of their lives" While those IN the camp
were watching the mannuvres three goats ran
past the tents at the top Of their speed, so near
that the cook was able to strike one Of them
across the neck with q stick of irewood as he
dashed by. OF the thirty days spent in the home
of the mountain goat, only two were devoted
to hunting them with the rifle scarcely day
passed" writes DR.. Hornaday without at
least one flock Of goats in sight. We saw 239
individuals. challenging all repeaters. and care
fully eliminating all those seen second or
third time It was because we shot little that
we saw much" The field glass and the cam
era were the weapons most usually employed
against these hardy mountaineers, and some
of the close-range work with the lens afforded
danger and excitement enough to satisfy the
most enthusiastic hunter.
Dr. Hornaday Indignantly challenges the as
sertion made by some hunters that the mountain
goat is a stupid animal. On the contrary, he
regards it as a creature of ''philosophic mind.
Through sheer necessity he is much given to
original thinking, and. like all thoughtful ami
mails his mental processes and his moods and
lenses are highly interesting" Having learned
by experience that the rugged crags at and
above the timber line are the ground best cal
culated TO enable it to escape from its wild ami
nal enemies, when danger threatens the goat
seeks retreat accessible TO itself. but inaccessi
BILE TO its pursuer. But ne must also avoid get
ting into a cul-de-sac from which he cannot es-
cane" With the elk, the moose and deer generally
safety is sought in direct flight and speed for
the first mile is the prime factor. The mental
process involved is Of the slightest, but the goat
must figure things out carefully ION sclentlnc
princfples like general of artillery" The little
regard paid by the goats to the presence OF
man on his first appearance the author reason
ably concludes, is due not to dullness OF mind
but ..to lack of ACCOMPLISHMENTS of exist
ent facts"
Take the gqd IF eg5f GgT four 0n fa e goa on o6I 6gwy
between two groups Of mountains Inc fI.sl cay
three T9 sa% OF the Tan thToag our camp the third
day forty;two goats ana were ee seen oi 9g an
fains until the third day when killed two goats
On f5 hf all 3e goafs a had left the oountr3 @
literally true Word ha6 peen passed around Tii
there that there was danger afoot. and. as if by
La1isbedi The only bunch that remained was a
flock OF FIVE nannes and kids which were Isolated
from the main chain of peaks on which we were;
Evidently they did not not gd ger the |ofa @ WGh o ana ae o
only which at the extreme northern end OF
!Weve got to get out Of here and look for goats
somewhere else, If we wan to find any more
OF all sure-footed animals the mountain goat
most resembles the fly in its ability to main
tain its foothold and equilibrium upon the least
poseible excuse for a pathway. The author
describes the uncanny effect produced by the
sight of an old billy goat promenading across
the face of a perpendicular cliff. where the most
noyyerful field glass failed TO reveal the slight
est indication of a shelf. "As is always the
case when upon rocks" he writes the firm
ness with which each hoof planted-to
avoid slips and to detect loose rocks-gave the
animal very stiff gait" but his steps Vere
.a7g sr1 :zEuIaF, and ne pursued his course
unhesitatingly, save when he paused occa-
slonally TO gaze down upon his observers when
he would Jog on "as irdifferently as before"
The mountain goat is enabled to climb as it
does nv the peculiar formation of its hoofs
which are like balls OF soft rubber encased in
. etronr shell of hard rubber. and in descending
-rarn declivitfes It is assisted by the similarly
,ttarI,ue dew claws It's hind feet. on
,haee and its hind hoofs it slides. while the
go boofs guide it's course taking advantage
= r,, rough spot. Dr. Hornaday does not
- ,i,b those naturalists who question the
a,y.o,riateness of calling this animal a goat
1Fer.aoi.1t,, does he quarrel with those who
would aIIz, II with the anteopes. crag climb
, ,,,eIoye he declares would indeed be a
ootogfcaI novelty" The apparent fearlessness
oF me ooat-Mr Hornaday regards it as en-
,,re-,, real-makes the hunting of 1t with the
rife tbe rnerest childs play in those remote
districts. compared with its pursuit with the