GREECE i8i 



Anti-Milos, situated, as the name denotes, opposite Milos, some 

 4^ miles to the west of the main island, is an oval-shaped rock 2^- 

 miles in length by il miles in its greatest breadth, rising to a height 

 of 2,500 feet above the sea in sheer precipices. There is a slight 

 depression about the middle of the rock, forming a saddle, and lower 

 down, at the edge of the water, there is a corresponding levelling 

 of the ground looking eastward, where a landing may be effected, 

 ff the weather is calm. Any disturbance of the sea renders the 

 attempt extremely dangerous, and for the greater part of the year 

 impossible. Indeed, those who do set foot on Anti-Milos run the 

 risk of remaining w^eather-bound on the inhospitable rock for several 

 days. 



The question then arises, how did the ibex get there ? The 

 supposition that a couple may have been brought over from Crete 

 is untenable, on the face of it. As, however, it is known that the last 

 ibex disappeared from Mount St. Elias, in Milos, at a comparatively 

 recent date, and as all the surrounding islands are of volcanic forma- 

 tion, it is quite conceivable that when the rock of Anti-Milos was 

 wrenched from the main island it carried with it some of the animals, 

 which survived the disruption, and were able to nmltiply in their 

 changed home. 



It is computed that at the present time there are about one 

 hundred head roaming over the island in small herds of from six to 

 ten, led and watched over by one of the older bucks, which may be 

 seen perched on some commanding rock, doing sentinel's duty while 

 the others feed below. On such positions they are often detected 

 by ships passing at no great distance, the sea being very deep all 



