“The ibex,” said he, “is an animal whose name has been long famous, and about which the closet naturalists3 have written a great deal of nonsense—as they have about almost every other animal on the earth. After all that has been said about it, it is simply a goat—a wild goat, it is true, but still only a goat—having all the habits, and very much of the appearance characteristic of the domestic animal of this name.
“Every one knows that the common goat exists in as many varieties as the countries it inhabits. Indeed, there are more kinds of goats than countries: for it is not uncommon4 to meet with three or four sorts within the boundaries of a single kingdom—as in Great Britain itself. These varieties differ almost as much from each other as the ‘breeds’ of dogs; and hence there has been much speculation5 among zoologists6, as to what species of wild goat they have all originally sprung from.
“Now, it is my opinion,” continued the plant-hunter, “that the tame goats found among different nations of the earth have not all descended7 from the same stock; but are the progeny9 of more than one wild species—just as the domesticated10 breeds of sheep have sprung from several species of wild sheep; though many zoologists deny this very plain fact.”
“There are different species of wild goats, then?” said Caspar, interrogatively.
“There are,” replied the plant-hunter, “though they are not very numerous—perhaps in all there may be about a dozen. As yet there are not so many known to zoologists—that is, not a dozen that have been identified and described as distinct species; but no doubt when the central countries, both of Asia and Africa—with their grand chains of mountains—have been explored by scientific naturalists, at least that number will be found to exist.
“The speculating systematists—who decide about genera and species, by some slight protuberance upon a tooth—have already created a wonderful confusion in the family of the goats. Not contented11 with viewing them all as belonging to a single genus, they have divided them into five genera—though to most of the five they ascribe only one species!—thus uselessly multiplying names, and rendering12 the study of the subject more complicated and difficult.
“There can be no doubt that the goats, both wild and tame—including the ibex, which is a true wild goat—form of themselves a separate family in the animal kingdom, easily distinguishable from sheep, deer, antelopes13, or oxen. The wild goats often bear a very close resemblance to certain species of wild sheep; and the two are not to be distinguished14 from each other, by the goats being covered with hair and the sheep with wool—as is generally the case with tame breeds. On the contrary, both sheep and goats in a wild state have hairy coats—the sheep as much as the goats; and in many instances the hair of both is quite as short as that of antelopes or deer. Even where there are almost no external marks to distinguish wild goats from certain kinds of wild sheep, there are found moral characteristics which serve as guides to the genus. The goat is bolder, and of a fiercer nature; and its other habits, even in the wild state, differ essentially15 from those of the wild sheep.
“The ibex which we see above us,” continued Karl, looking up to the quadruped upon the cliff, “is neither more nor less than a wild goat. It is not the only species of wild goat inhabiting the Himalayas; for there is the ‘tahir,’ a stronger and larger animal than it; and it is believed that when these great mountains have been thoroughly16 ransacked17 (Karl here smiled at the very unscientific word he had made use of), there will turn up one or two additional species.
“It is not the only species of ibex neither,” continued he, “for there is one found in the European Alps, known by the name of ‘steinboc;’ another, in the Pyrenees, called the ‘tur;’ a third, in the Caucasus, the ‘zac;’ and one or two others in the mountains of Africa.
“With regard to the animal now before, or rather above us,” continued Karl, “it differs very little from others of the same family; and as both its appearance and habits have been very ably described by a noted18 sportsman, who was also an accomplished19 naturalist2, I cannot do better than quote his description: since it gives almost every detail that is yet authentically20 known of the Himalayan ibex.
“‘The male,’ writes this gentleman author, ‘is about the size of the tahir (here he speaks of the other well-known species of Himalayan wild goat, and which is itself much larger than any of the domesticated kinds). Except just after changing their coats, when they are of a greyish hue21, the general colour of the ibex is a dirty yellowish brown. I have, however, killed the younger animals, both male and female, with their coats as red as that of a deer in his red coat; but never saw an old male of that colour, for the reason, I imagine, that he lives much higher, and sheds his hair much later in the season. The hair is short, something in texture22 like that of the burrell and other wild sheep; and in the cold weather is mixed with a very soft downy wool, resembling the shawl-wool of Thibet. This and the old hair is shed in May and June; and in districts occupied by the flocks at that season the bushes and sharp corners of rocks are covered with their cast-off winter coats. The striking appearance of the ibex is chiefly owing to the noble horns: which nature has bestowed23 upon it. In full-grown animals the horns, which curve gracefully25 over the shoulders, are from three to four feet in length along the curve, and about eleven inches in circumference26 at the base. Very few attain27 a greater length than four feet; but I have heard of their being three inches longer. Their beards, six or eight inches in length, arc of shaggy black hair. The females, light greyish-brown in colour, are hardly a third the size of the males; and their horns are round and tapering28, from ten inches to a foot in length. Their appearance upon the whole is clean-made, agile29, and graceful24.
“‘In the summer they everywhere resort to the highest accessible places where food can be found—often to a part of the country several marches distant from their winter haunts. This migration30 commences as soon as the snow begins to disappear; and is very gradually performed—the animals receding31 from hill to hill, and remaining a few days upon each.
“‘At this season the males keep in large flocks, apart from the females; and as many as a hundred may occasionally be seen together. During the heat of the day they rarely move about, but rest and sleep—either on the beds of snow in the ravines, or on the rocks and shingly32 slopes of the barren hill-sides, above the limits of vegetation. Sometimes, but very rarely, they will lie down on the grassy33 spots where they have been feeding. Towards evening they begin to move, and proceed to their grazing-grounds—which are often miles away. They set out walking slowly at first; but, if they have any considerable distance before them, soon break into a trot34; and sometimes the whole flock will go as hard as they can lay legs to the ground. From what we could gather from the natives, we concluded that they remain in these high regions until the end of October; when they begin to mix with the females, and gradually descend8 to their winter resorts. The females do not wander so much or so far—many remaining on the same ground throughout the year—and those that do visit the distant hills are generally found lower down than the males, seldom ascending35 above the limits of vegetation. They bring forth36 their young in July, having generally two at a birth; though, like other gregarious37 animals, many are frequently found barren.
“‘The ibex are wary38 animals, gifted with very sharp sight and an acute sense of smell. They are very easily alarmed, and so wild, that a single shot fired at a flock is often sufficient to drive them away from that particular range of hills they may be upon. Even if not fired at, the appearance of a human being near their haunt is not unfrequently attended with the same result. Of this we had many instances during our rambles39 after them, and the very first flock of old males we found gave us a proof. They were at the head of the Asrung valley, and we caught sight of them just as they were coming down the hill to feed—a noble flock of nearly a hundred old males. It was late in the day, and we had a long way to return to camp. Prudence40 whispered, “Let them alone till to-morrow,” but excitement carried the day, and we tried the stalk. Having but little daylight remaining, we may have hurried, and consequently approached them with less caution than we should have done had we had time before us. However it might be, we failed; for long before we got within range, some of them discovered us, and the whole flock decamped without giving us the chance of a shot. Not having fired at, or otherwise disturbed them, more than by approaching the flock, we were in great hopes of finding them the next day; but that and several succeeding ones were passed in a fruitless search. They had entirely41 forsaken42 that range of hills.
“‘All readers of natural history are familiar with the wonderful climbing and saltatory powers of the ibex; and, although they cannot (as has been described in print) make a spring and hang on by their horns until they gain footing, yet in reality, for such heavy-looking animals, they get over the most inaccessible-looking places in an almost miraculous43 manner. Nothing seems to stop them, nor to impede44 in the least their progress. To see a flock, after being fired at, take a direct line across country, which they often do, over all sorts of seemingly impassable ground; now along the naked face of an almost perpendicular45 rock, then across a formidable landslip, or an inclined plane of loose stones or sand, which the slightest touch sets in motion both above and below; diving into chasms46 to which there seems no possible outlet47, but instantly reappearing on the opposite side; never deviating48 in the slightest from their course; and at the same time getting over the ground at the rate of something like fifteen miles an hour, is a sight not easily to be forgotten. There are few animals, if any, that excel the ibex in endurance and agility49.’”
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1
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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2
naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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3
naturalists
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| n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者 | |
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4
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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5
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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6
zoologists
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| 动物学家( zoologist的名词复数 ) | |
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7
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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8
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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9
progeny
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| n.后代，子孙；结果 | |
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10
domesticated
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| adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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12
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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13
antelopes
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| 羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革 | |
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14
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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15
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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16
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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17
ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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18
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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19
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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20
authentically
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| ad.sincerely真诚地 | |
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21
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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22
texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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23
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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25
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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27
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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29
agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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30
migration
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| n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙 | |
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31
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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32
shingly
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| adj.小石子多的 | |
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33
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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34
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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35
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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36
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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37
gregarious
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| adj.群居的，喜好群居的 | |
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38
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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39
rambles
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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40
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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41
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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42
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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43
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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44
impede
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止 | |
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45
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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46
chasms
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| 裂缝( chasm的名词复数 )； 裂口； 分歧； 差别 | |
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47
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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48
deviating
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| v.偏离，越轨( deviate的现在分词 ) | |
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49
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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