i8o 



BIG GAME SHOOTING 



Spain is during the months of July and August. Heavy snow- 

 storms make sport in the winter dangerous and uncertain. 



With regard to the specific distinction of the Spanish ibex, 

 some authorities have held that the ibex of the Pyrenees differs 

 from that of the Sierra Nevada and southern mountains, the 

 former animal agreeing more wdth the typical ibex of the Alps. 



Sir Victor Brooke, in a note just received, remarks, ' The 

 Pyrenean ibex are much larger beasts than those of the southern 

 Spanish Sierras. In the Pyrenees they are scarce, and live in 

 the worst precipices I ever saw an animal in — they go vsWofar 

 worse ground than the chamois, and are very nocturnal, never 

 seen except in the dusk or early dawn unless disturbed.' 



We, however, have found no material difference in the 

 form of the horns of ibex from the Pyrenees and those from 

 Central and Southern Spain. The following are the maximum 

 dimensions of six ibex heads from these latter districts, all 

 measured by the writers : — 



Measurements of Six Ibex Heads 



All these were shot on the Central and South Spanish sierras, v 



The following are the measurements of Sir Victor Brooke's ji 

 three best Pyrenean ibex heads : — jl 



i 



