THE ISLANDS OF SARDINIA AND CORSICA. 19 



During this tour in 1884 I was thus unsuccessful 

 in obtaining a head of one of those wily and much- 

 sought-for animals, the moufflons or wild sheep pecu- 

 liar to Corsica and Sardinia, excepting one presented 

 by a native hunter. 



Next time, however, in 1885, in company with the 

 Earl of Mayo, the expedition was a successful one as 

 regards these peculiar animals. It would be desirable 

 to begin at the beginning and describe how the mouf- 

 flon is to be found, and where, as on these sort of 

 expeditions the start is often the most difficult part. 

 First of all, moufflons are only to be found in any 

 numbers in the eastern and central portion of the island 

 Gennargentu and neighbouring ranges. During 

 the day they keep themselves concealed in the woods, 

 which consist mostly of ilex or evergreen oak, or in 

 the maquia, which, averaging four feet, completely 

 conceals them. The only chance of finding them in 

 order to stalk them is when they feed at sunrise. The 

 country is excessively dry and stony, and the animals 

 themselves are wilder than the average Eocky Moun- 

 tain sheep. The usual and most successful way of 

 hunting these animals, then, is by driving, which, to 

 make sure of killing, requires from fifteen to twenty 

 guns. One of the large wooded valleys is chosen 

 which lie around Gennargentu, and the guns line one 

 of the side ridges, and more especially the crest above, 

 should the wind serve, for the moufflon is in the habit, 

 when disturbed, of seeking higher ground. Never 

 more than four and often only three men enter the 



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