THE IBEXES 211 



but average heads run from 35 to 38 inches. Few 

 European sportsmen have yet secured this fine wild 

 goat. Now that Upper Egypt is at peace and the 

 Soudan conquered, we shall probably hear more of 

 this little-known species, which affords undoubtedly 

 some of the finest stalking in the world. 



Of the Abyssinian Ibex still less was known, until 

 quite recently, than of the Arabian wild goat. Until 

 the year 1898 even the horns of this animal were 

 almost unknown, only a pair or two in the Sencken- 

 berg Museum at Frankfort existing at that time in 

 Europe. Major P. H. G. Powell-Cotton, however, 

 in the course of a sporting expedition through 

 Abyssinia made in 1899, was fortunate enough to- 

 secure a number of fine specimens of this wild 

 goat in the mountains of Simien, in which locality, 

 according to the natives, it is only to be met with. 

 Major Cotton found this Ibex on mountains of about 

 4500 feet in altitude, where it appears to be hunted 

 a good deal by native shikaris ; after some hard 

 stalking he succeeded in bagging four good speci- 

 mens. Of these the finest horns measured 42^ and 

 43^ inches respectively over the curve. This Ibex 

 was found to be somewhat like the Arabian species 

 in general appearance, but having a shorter beard 

 and stouter and thicker horns. The horns resemble 

 most nearly those of the Asiatic species, Capra 

 siberica. The coat of a good ram shot was dark 

 chestnut, merging into silvery grey at the side, 

 which in turn was separated from the white of the 

 belly by a brown line. The head, chestnut-coloured 



VOL. II P 



