Bibliographical Notice. 69 
It is impossible to refer to half the interesting points presented 
by this volume, but the authors’ experiences with the ibex of the 
Peninsula deserve notice, for they are, by far, the most novel 
feature of the book. This ibex is quite distinct from the steinbok 
of the Italian Alps, and belongs to the group of ‘‘turs,” or sheep- 
like goats, found in Southern Europe from the Caucasus westward. 
No true wild sheep, such as the moufflon, are now known to exist in 
Spain; and although Mr. Lydekker, to whose authority we bow, has 
stated that the moufflon was formerly abundant in the Peninsula, 
we have no knowledge of its existence within historic times 
further west than the Balearic Islands, and even there it has long 
been extinct. To return to the ibex: it is still found in some of 
the deep and remarkably narrow limestone gorges on the Spanish 
side of the Pyrenees, and in ‘Short Stalks’ Mr. E. N. Buxton has 
given a capital account of his experiences with that wily animal in 
‘some of its haunts in Aragon, which were practically, we believe, 
rediscovered by the late Sir Victor Brooke. From the Pyrenees we 
trace it along the mountains of Central Spain to the Sierra de 
Gredos, which forms the apex of the watershed between the Douro 
and the Tagus, and by a continuation of that range—known 
as the Serra da Estrelha—the ibex enters Portugal. South of this 
there appears to be a break of continuity, and when the ibex reappears 
in the Sierra Morena (according to the authors) and undoubtedly in 
the Sierra Nevada, as well as in the Sierra Bermeja overhanging the 
Mediterranean, it has varied so far from the northern type, Capra 
pyrenaica, that Schimper considered the differences as specific, and 
conferred the name of C. Aispanica upon the southern race. From 
their practical and consequently valuable experiences of both races 
the authors are able to give us some useful details respecting the 
habits and haunts of these animals ; from which it appears that in 
the higher ranges ibex never descend, even in winter, to forests or 
coverts of any kind; but in the Sierras of Bermeja and Palmitera, 
which do not exceed 5000 feet in elevation and are clothed to the 
summit with wood, ibex make lairs in the scrub like those of a roe- 
deer, and in one drive “wild goat” and wild boar were afoot 
simultaneously. But both races resort to the narrowest and most 
overhung ledges on the first alarm. 
If we were writing for sportsmen we could dilate upon the 
chapters on ‘“ Deer driving in the Forests,” ‘‘ Wild-fowling in the 
Wilderness” both with the cabrestos or stalking-horses and the 
stanchion guns, the hunting of the grisly boar, trout-fishing in the 
northern provinces, bustard-shooting, and many other topics ; while 
if we have refrained from saying anything about the wild (feral) 
camels of the marisma, it is because almost every other reviewer 
has, metaphorically, had a shot at them. But we think we have 
said enough to give a fair idea of one of the most fascinating volumes 
which has ever come under our knowledge. 
