Arabian Ibex 269 



Distribution. — The mountains of Southern Arabia, Palestine, the Sinaitic 

 Peninsula, Upper Egypt, and thence apparently, into those of Morocco 

 and the interior of Senegambia. The type specimen is a pair of horns 

 preserved in the Museum at Paris. In the same collection are two other 

 pairs stated to have been obtained from Senegal. With regard to these 

 latter, Mons. Pousargues considers that we should await further evidence 

 before definitely adding North-Western Africa to the distributional area 

 of the species. Additional evidence in favour of such western extension is 

 afforded by a small but characteristic pair of horns in the possession of Dr. 

 Guillemard, which was obtained by him some years ago at Tangier, where 

 it was stated by the former owner to have come from the Atlas. It was 

 scarcely likely to have been exported from Egypt to Tangier ; and, taken 

 together with the Paris specimens, seems to indicate that the species is 

 really an inhabitant of the little known mountainous districts of the interior 

 of North-Western Africa. 



Habits. — The general mode of life of the Arabian ibex is probably very 

 similar to that of the European and Asiatic species. In Arabia Petr^a the 

 animal is stated by Canon Tristram to be very common, while even in 

 Palestine it is less rare than is often supposed. Like other ibex, they are very 

 shy and wary, keeping to the upper regions of the mountains, where their 

 colour renders them very difficult to distinguish from the rocks among which 

 they dwell. An observer, quoted by Canon Tristram, states that the kids, 

 before they are able to accompany the old ones, are concealed by the mother 

 under some rock, and apparently are only visited at night. He once 

 caught a young one which ran from under a rock as he was climbing a 

 mountain. The little creature had evidently heard the intruder approach- 

 ing, and ran out under the impression that he was its mother. 



