128 WILD SPAIN. 



CHAPTER XL 



THE SPANISH IBEX. 



NOTES ON ITS NATURAL HISTORY, HAUNTS, HABITS, AND 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The ibex, or wild goat, has a wide range throughout the 

 Alpine regions of the old world : and wherever it is found, 

 from Spain to the Himalayas, takes a chief place amongst 

 the beasts of chase. Few pictures, indeed, does the 

 animal-world present more perfect than an old iliex-ram,* 

 with his thick-set, game-like form, his hoary coat and 

 flowing beard, and those massive, widely-curving horns — 

 no trophy more dear to the big-game sportsman, and few 

 so hard to secure. 



The Spanish Peninsula can boast an ibex peculiar to 

 itself, a noble beast not to be found elsewhere than on 

 Iberian soil. Till recently, we shared the opinion that two 

 forms of il)ex existed in Spain — the Pyrenean type, and 

 the slightly divergent Capra hispanica of the southern 

 sierras : but further experience and a comparison of heads 

 from various points, have convinced us that (except in the 

 matter of size) there is no material difference between the 

 Spanish races of wild goats. No difference, that is, 

 greater than might naturally be looked for as between 

 isolated colonies, separated one from another du ring- 

 centuries —for the ibex of Nevada or of Gredos is as 

 effectually divided from his kind in the Pyrenees as 

 though wide oceans rolled between. 



* The English language provides no word specially- to designate a 

 male goat. We have, therefore, fallen back on the word ram, which, 

 though not strictly accurate, is the nearest available term. 



