THE SPANISH IBEX. 129 



Differences in habits, haunts, and food are well known 

 to produce, during extended periods, corresponding differ- 

 ences in form : but so far as we are able to judge, the only 

 material variation between the so-called Capra pyrenaica, 

 of the north, and the ('. hispanica, of Southern and 

 Central Spain, is that of size. The Pyrenean ibex is a 

 larger animal : but the horns are almost, though not quite, 

 identical in form with those from the Sierra Nevada* : while 

 both differ most materially from the well-known horns of 

 the typical ibex, the Capra ibex of the Alps and of Central 

 Europe. 



These differences will be seen at a glance in the photo- 

 graphs and rough sketches we annex. Briefly, the horns 

 of the true ibex bend regularly backwards and downwards 

 in a more or less uniform, scimitar-like curve : while those 

 of all Spanish goats, after first diverging laterally, become 

 re-curved both inwai'ds and finally upwards. That is, 

 while in the one case the horns present a simple circular 

 bend, in the Spanish ibex they form almost a spiral.! 



A minor point of difference consists in the form of the 

 annular notches, or rings. These in the Alpine ibex run 

 more or less straight around, encircling the horn in front 

 roughly like steps in a ladder : while in Capra hispanica 

 they run obliquely in a spiral ascent. These annulations 

 indicate the age of the animal — one notch to each year : but 

 the count must stop where the spiral ends. Beyond that, 

 there is always the lightly-grooved tip which does not alter. 

 The horns of the female ibex are weak and compara- 

 tively short — only some six or seven inches in length, not 

 unlike those of the chamois, but not so sharply hooked. 

 These do not grow annually : hence there is not the ready 

 index of age afforded by the horns of the rams. It is, 

 perhaps, unnecessary to add that the horns of goats are 

 permanent, and not cast yearly as is the case with deer. 



* Horns from Nevada are thinner, more compressed laterally, and 

 the ridges show the spiral curves less distinctly. It is, after all, the 

 old question of what constitutes a species. 



t The horns of the Spanish ibex rather resemble those of the 

 burrell, or wild sheep of the Caucasus, &c., tlian typical ibex-horns. 



K 



