WALA 91 



female being, however, always on guard. When fired at, these ibex 

 invariably start straight away, seldom offering a second chance to the 

 sportsman. In this respect they are unlike the sakin, or ibex of 

 Central Asia. 



THE WALA OR ABYSSINIAN IBEX 



(Capra vali) 

 Wala, SlMlEN 



This splendid ibex, the wala of the natives of the mountains of 

 Simien (to which it appears to be restricted), differs from the Nubian 

 species by its stouter build, shorter beard, and larger and more massive 

 horns, on which the knots are but slightly prominent, as well as by 

 its darker colour and superior size. The skull is also characterised 

 by the presence of a prominent boss on the forehead. In height this 

 ibex stands about 40 inches at the shoulder, while its weight is 

 estimated at some 260 Ib. The record horn-length is 43^ inches. 



Although described by the Austrian naturalist Riippell so long 

 ago as the year 1835, this ibex was known in Europe only by a 

 few specimens, including several of the skull and horns, till 1901, 

 when a fine series of complete examples was obtained in Simien 

 by Major P. H. G. Powell -Cotton. Specimens are now exhibited 

 in the British Museum, and in Mr. Rothschild's private museum at 

 Tring. 



Riippell's description of the wala is as follows : " Front and 

 upper side of head, neck, and back beautiful chestnut-brown ; muzzle, 

 a curved streak between eye and ear, sides of neck, body, and rump 

 reddish umber-brown. Region under the eye and ear, the chin, throat, 

 chest, and inner surface of the thighs and belly dirty white. Outer 

 side of thighs and legs and sides of belly dirty grey. Feet whitish, 

 with a large spot at the fetlock and a stripe down the legs black. 

 Root of tail chestnut-brown, tip black. Inner side of ears white, with 

 a reddish border, outer surface red-brown. Iris of eye pale brown, 

 pupil dark blue." 



Major Powell-Cotton has furnished the following notes on the 

 habits of this ibex : 



" This ibex is called wala by the Abyssinians, and is said to exist 

 only in the mountains of Simien. I shot four specimens at the com- 

 mencement of autumn (end of June), just at the beginning of the 



