644 



UNGULATA. 



form ridges, as in the Ibex. The horns of a buck eleven years old, were 

 found to measure over two feet and a half in length. The color of the 

 animal varies not only with age and season, but according to locality. 

 The hair, beginning from the horns, and going down to the shoulder, 

 forms a kind of mane nearly four inches long ; the tail has a still longer 

 tuft. In the Sierra de Grados, a dark-brown mixed with black is the 

 prevailing color in summer ; in winter, a brownish-black and gray hue 

 predominate. In the Sierra Nevada the color is lighter, and the black 

 less pronounced. 



The Cabramontes usually lives in herds, divided according to the 

 sex, often exceeding one hundred in number. The bucks, heedless of 

 snow and cold, live in the highest part of the mountains, while the ewes 

 seek the southern slopes. The herd is led by the oldest and strongest 

 member. The leader advances ten or twelve yards, st6ps till the herd 

 comes up, and then again advances in like manner. A herd, feeding, 

 always appoints sentinels to give the alarm. A piping bleat gives the 

 signal. The herd rushes away. Precipices, where man can see no pos- 

 sible foothold for any living creature, are scaled with easy rapidity and 

 safety, not only by the old ones, but the youngest kids. The bucks are 

 more watchful than the ewes, and take the additional precaution of 

 having a rearguard ; nor are they so timid, for, when disturbed, they do 

 not at once take to flight, but leap on some rock and examine the in- 

 truder. The Spanish hunter has a hard task to bring down his game. 

 He climbs by the wildest paths to the mountain ridge, then creeps on 

 hands and knees to the edge of some precipice, where, after removing 

 his hat, he lies flat down to look into the chasm below. If he sees a 

 herd, he imitates their piping bleat, and by this device often attracts the 

 bucks nearer to him. The flesh is highly prized, and the hide and horns 

 have also their value. 



Old writers used to relate that the horns of the Ibexes were of great 

 service to the animal, for, when it leaped down a precipice, it alighted 

 on its horns, and thus saved its skull. Of course this is mere fable. 



THE ARABIAN IBEX. 



The Beden, Capra Syriaca, is closely allied to the Ibex of the Alps. 

 The differences between them lie in the horns, which have three angles 



