3 2o HOOFED ANIMALS 



Of all the varieties the best known is the Ibex of the 

 European Alps. In one sense it can scarcely be called a 

 wild Goat nowadays, for it is practically restricted to the 

 Piedmont side of Monte Rosa, where the Italian Govern- 

 ment has protected it from complete extermination. Wild 

 Goats as a rule frequent more rugged country than even the 

 wild sheep ; the Pamir Sheep is found at a height of 20,000 

 feet, but even then it is still in comparatively open country. 



The Ibex stands about three and a half feet high. Its 

 rather harsh hair is a deep hoary brown in summer, and 

 yellowish in winter. To support the thick, short body the 

 legs are stout and strong ; the fore legs are slightly shorter 

 than the hind ones, and hence it is better able to ascend 

 than descend, and in flight always seeks the highest points. 

 It is wonderfully sure-footed, and can descend clefts, or 

 1 chimneys ' as they are called, simply by cannoning from 

 one side to the other. 



The horns of the animal, transversely ridged, are quite 

 two feet long in the male. It used to be believed that when 

 the Ibex climbed to some inaccessible spot from which it 

 could not retrace its steps, it gathered its feet together, bent 

 its chin on its breast, and flung itself off the precipice, falling 

 on its horns, and bounding from ledge to ledge until it 

 reached level ground. Suppose this were really so in the 

 big-horned males, what was to become of the more valuable 

 females when they were in a like predicament ? Their 

 smaller horns would certainly be unable to render similar 

 useful service. It has been clearly proved that the horns 

 have no preservative uses, a remark which equally applies 

 to the argali, another animal that was also once connected 

 with the pretty theory. 



The Ibex is shy and wary to a degree. Hunting the 

 animal is dangerous, not only on account of the precipitous 

 regions it frequents, but also because when pressed it will 

 turn on its pursuers with quick impetuosity, with the chance 

 of a hunter being hurled down some steep declivity. The 

 female seldom has more than one young at a time. She is 

 a devoted mother, and will fight even an eagle to the death 

 in defence of her offspring. When caught young the 

 animal is easily tamed ; it is, however, rather an unsatis- 



