CHAMOIS, Antilope rupicapra, Ger. gemse, a species of antelope (q.v.) inhabiting the Alps and other high mountains of central and southern Europe, as the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, and the mountains of Greece; also those of some of the Mediterranean islands, Caucasus, Taurus, and other mountains of the w. of Asia. It is one of the ante lopes sometimes designated capriform or goatlike, because of their departure from the typical or true antelope form, and approach to that of the goats. The C. is about the size of a large goat, but the neck is longer in proportion, and the body shorter; the horns seldom more than 6 or 7 in. long, black, rising nearly straight up from the forehead, and so bent back at the tip as to form a hook. The color is brown, deeper in winter than in summer; the tail is black; the head is of a pale-yellow color, with a dark-brown band along each cheek.
The usual summer resort, of the C. is in the higher regions of the mountains which it inhabits, not far from the snow-line, and it is often to be seen lying on the snow. In winter it descends to the higher forests. The aromatic and bitter plants of the moun tain-pastures are its favorite food. It is—like the ruminants generally—very fond of salt; " and many stones are met with in the Alps, hollowed out by the continual licking of the C., on account of the saltpeter with which they abound." It is gregarious; flocks of 100 are sometimes seen ; but in the Swiss Alps, where the numbers have been much reduced by hunting, the flocks are generally very small, and often consist only of a few individuals. Old males often live solitarily. The C. produces one or two young at a birth, in the month of Mar. or April.
It is an animal of extraordinary agility, and flocks may often be observed sporting in a remarkable manner among the rocky heights. It can leap over ravines of 16 to 18
ft. wide; a wall of 14 ft. high presents no obstacle to it; and it passes readily up or down precipices which almost no other quadruped could attempt. It is said to descend obliquely almost perpendicular precipices of more than 20 ft., striking its feet once or twice against the rock, as if to stay and guide its descent, and alighting securely, often on a very narrow ridge of rock, with its hind feet first, and bringing the forefeet almost into contact with them.
The hunting of the C. is an occupation attended with great hardships and much danger, but of which, nevertheless, some of the Swiss peasants become passionately fond. The hunter sometimes goes out on the adventurous chase alone; but more fre quently several go out together, dividing into parties; and whilst the flock of C. flee from those whose approach they first descry, an opportunity of using the rifle is obtained by their comrades. The scent of the C. is extremely keen; and when by this sense it is apprised of the approach of the hunter, it becomes alarmed and restless until it sees him, upon which it rushes hastily in an opposite direction, and so falls into the ambuscade. When a flock of C. is feeding, one is always on the watch, and by a sort of whistle, announces apprehended danger.—The flesh of the C. is highly esteemed. Its skin is made into leather, and from it the original shammoy, or shammy leather, so much prized for softness and warmth, was obtained, although the name has now become common also to leather prepared from the skins of other animals. See LEATHER.—When taken young, the C. is easily tamed.—The C. of the Persian mountains is smaller and of a paler color than the European variety, and its horns bend from the base.