574 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



spiral curve, the tips generally bending forward and outward, but 

 sometimes inward; length in wild specimens up to 34J inches. Sar- 

 dinian females usually with short horns; those of Corsica generally 

 hornless. (Millais, 1914, pp. 376-377.) 



"The Musmons of Sardinia and Corsica . . . live in small herds, 

 . . . uniting occasionally into flocks of near one hundred .... 

 Their skins are used for various purposes, and ... the mountain- 

 eers still convert them into vests, and a kind of cloaks, which may 

 be the present representatives of the Mastruca Sardorum, noticed in 

 the commentaries on Cicero." (Hamilton Smith, 1827, p. 324.) 



In 1856 Valenciennes (p. 56) reported the species as still rather 

 abundant in Corsica and Sardinia. 



"Though by law the close time extends from November till June, 

 the law has little force in the mountain ranges which these animals 

 inhabit [in Sardinia], and they are shot indiscriminately, and with 

 impunity all the year round" (Tennant, 1885, p. 195). 



"Muflon are restricted to certain mountain ranges in their native 

 islands, and there frequent only the higher portions .... For- 

 merly, at any rate, muflon were found in flocks of very large size 

 .... If sufficiently hung, the flesh of the rams is excellent for the 

 table when the animals are in good condition .... Muflon will 

 breed with domesticated sheep." (Lydekker, 1898c, pp. 157-158.) 



It lives in small bands, and decreases day by day, being much 

 persecuted by the Corsican hunters (Martin, 1910, pp. 47a-47b). 



Millais (1914, pp. 376-378) gives the following account: 



This grand little sheep holds its own in Sardinia, in spite of constant per- 

 secution; but in Corsica the numbers are decreasing, although it is well 

 preserved on a few estates. ... 



They are seldom found in flocks of more than a dozen . . 



The native method of hunting moufflon both in Corsica and Sardinia is to 

 drive the animals to well-known passes. This usually results in the moufflon 

 being seen and females and young being killed, but the old rams are seldom 

 killed in this way. 



It lives in the mountains of Corsica and Sardinia in small bands, 

 which remain by day in the most rugged spots and in the thickets 

 (maquis). It is much hunted, and diminishes in number. (Didier 

 and Rode, 1935, p. 334.) 



"It still exists in some numbers in Corsica and Sardinia, where 

 it is protected. But I don't know how efficiently!" (Jean Delacour, 

 in Hit., July 25, 1936.) 



In Sardinia the Mouflon is found especially on the Gennargentu. 

 Its numbers appear to be rather few. Hunting is not allowed. The 

 National Park of Gennargentu, now under preparation, will be 

 created mainly to protect this species. It has been introduced into 

 some reserves in Italy, including the Mount Circee National Park 



