M UFL ON— RODENTS 4 5 1 



which are heaviest in weight, are more distinctly knotted. The docs, especially 

 in late spring, move to the southern mountain-slopes, and in the middle of winter 

 descend even to the vicinity of villages, while the old bucks, which are less affected 

 by snow and cold, remain on the highest and most exposed summits. At pairing- 

 time, in November, when stubborn fights take place between the bucks, the herds 

 of the two sexes come together, but in December they again separate ; the one 

 to three year old bucks remaining, however, with the females. When the herd is 

 grazing or resting, the individual first to notice approaching danger (for there 

 does not seem to be a specially posted sentinel) informs its companions, whereupon 

 the entire herd takes to flight. In so doing even the kids of a few hours old are 

 able to follow their mothers over the roughest ground. 



Southern Europe is also the home of a peculiar species of wild 

 sheep, the muflon (Ovis musimori), now confined to the islands of 

 Sardinia and Corsica. Standing about 27 inches high, with horns varying from 

 20 to 34 inches in length, the European muflon is an elegantly built ruminant, 

 clothed with short, close fur; the rams having a short mane on the neck and a 

 fringe on the throat. The colour is chestnut, with a brown stripe on the back, and 

 a grey or white saddle-patch on the backs of the rams. The head is grey, and 

 the lips, a stripe on the rump, the sides, and the tail, the lower portion of the 

 body, and the legs are white. Each of the two islands named appears to have a 

 distinct race of muflon ; the females being probably horned in the one and hornless 

 in the other. In April or May the ewe brings forth one or two young, which a 

 few days after their birth are able to follow their mother. Occasionally a muflon 

 will leave its companions to associate with ordinary sheep, while sometimes a 

 motherless domesticated lamb will join a flock of muflon — both these facts proving 

 the close relationship existing between the two animals, and suggesting that at 

 least some tame sheep are descended from the present species. Many domesticated 

 sheep are, however, distinguished by the greater length of the tail from these and 

 all other wild sheep, except the arui (Ammotragus lervia) of northern Africa, 

 which differs so markedly from the rest in the shape of its horns that it is 

 scarcely likely to have been an ancestor of the domesticated breeds. 



The western countries of southern Europe are, as mentioned above, 

 Rodents. . ...... 



considered to be the original home of the rabbit, which still lives wild 



both on the European and African sides of the Mediterranean. Another south 

 European rodent is Savi's vole (Microtus savii), which inhabits Italy and the 

 south of France. This vole is rusty grey above and whitish beneath, with 

 white feet. On the sole of the hind foot are five pads. The length of the body 

 is 3i inches, the tail being an inch long. The species, which usually inhabits dry 

 districts, multiplies nearly as rapidly as the European short-tailed field-mouse. 



Another rodent of the south of Europe is the crested porcupine (Hystrix 

 cristata), also inhabiting the north and west of Africa, which is characterised by 

 its well-known " quills." Some of these are long and slender, but others short 

 and stout ; most of them being white with black rings ; while all are simply 

 thickened hairs, every intermediate gradation between the two types being dis- 

 coverable. These spines are mainly defensive, but are used occasionally in attack, 

 when the animal suddenly darts backwards and thrusts them into its pursuer. 



