CHAPTER V. 



THE mufflon is one of the mammals most characte- 

 ristic of the island of Corsica. It is not, however, 

 peculiar to that island; it is also found in Sardinia, 

 in Crete, and in Spain. 



In the summer it keeps to the plateaus which border 

 the regions of eternal snow ; during the winter it de- 

 scends lower. In the extreme cold it seeks the deserted 

 cabins in which the shepherds had lodged in the sum- 

 mer ; and it is said that in some exceptional winters 

 mufflOns have been seen mingling with the horses, 

 mules, and sheep in the stables. 



They go habitually in flocks of from five or six at 

 least, to twenty or twenty-five at most, browsing 

 the different kinds of grass, and the young shoots of 

 many kinds of trees and shrubs, those of the ivy 

 above all. Whilst they are feeding an old male keeps 

 sentry on some elevated point; at the least danger 

 the alarm is given, and in the twinkling of an eye 

 all have disappeared in the ravines ; and they bound 



