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snow-zone. There they are easily captured as soon as they are 

 weaned ; and, if taken at that early age, the bucks lose the offensive 

 odour so characteristic of all the ooat tribe, are easily tamed, and 

 become most beautiful and playful pet animals. 



In its natural state, however, the ibex is a most wild and wary 

 beast ; and the precipitous and inaccessible rocks over which they 

 spring with surprising ease and grace render them practically un- 

 approachable. Add to this the marvellous assimilation of their colour 

 to their surroundings, and their keen sense of smell and hearing, 

 and the difficulties of successfully stalking the ibex are easily 

 conceived. At Anti-Milos, besides these difficulties and the arduous 

 task of escalading almost perpendicular rocks, there are the goats, 

 which allow themselves to be more easily approached, but which 

 serve the ibex as advance guards and scouts. When at last there 

 is a kill, it does not follow that the victim comes into the successful 

 marksman's possession. Unless a flock is skilfully manoeuvred into 

 comparatively level ground, the animal shot is as likely as not to 

 drop into some gorge or crevice, from which there is no recovering 

 it, or to be dashed to atoms by the fall from some high rock. In 

 this way not a few of the remaining specimens at Anti-Milos are 

 uselessly sacrificed, and it is to be feared that, with the new long- 

 range rifles, they will soon completely disappear. Another danger 

 threatening this herd is the cross-breeding with the wild goats which 

 is going on, and which is almost impossible now to prevent. 



Pashley (vol. ii. p. 271) gives the following interesting account, as 

 related to him in conversation by an intelligent Cretan mountaineer. 

 Captain Vasili Khalis, of Theriso : " The agrimia are so active that 



