THE LARGE GAME OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL 179 



Mountain Deer 



Of the Spanish chamois there is little to be said. He is more 

 or less common in the Pyrenees, where the French call him 

 the ' izard,' the Spaniards ' rebeco,' and in the Cantabrian high- 

 lands, especially about the Picos de Europa, where he is ignobly 

 slain by driving. 



But the great prize of Spain to men of our craft is the ibex 

 the ' Cabra montes ' of Andalusia, the 'bucardo' of Aragon. The 

 Spanish mountaineers do not much affect ibex hunting, though 

 there are a few hardy souls among them who, donning their 

 alparagatas, or hemp-soled sandals, make a living out of this 

 most fascinating of field sports. 



The ibex is found on the highlands of Spain from Biscay 

 to the Mediterranean, and from the Pyrenees to the Straits 

 of Gibraltar, as also on the hills round Andorra, on the 

 mountains of Toledo, and along all the elevated cordillera of 

 central Spain ; but its favourite haunt is the Sierra de Credos. 

 This lofty sierra is the highest point of the Carpeto-Vetonico 

 range, extending from Moncayo through Castile and Estrema- 

 dura, and forming the watershed of Tagus and Douro. It 

 separates the two Castiles, and passing the Portuguese frontier 

 is there known as the Sierra da Estrella, which, with the Cintra 

 hills, extends to the Atlantic seaboard. Along the whole range 

 of this extensive Cordillera there is no such favourite ground for 

 the ibex as its highest peak the Plaza de Almanzor. During 

 the winter months the ibex are found on the lower slopes of 

 the range towards Estremadura, but in summer and autumn 

 herds of them, especially the males, make their homes in the 

 environs of Almanzor. The best time for ibex shooting in 



