HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 75 



being of a yellow colour and a triangular shape; 

 they likewise bend backward behind the ears: in 

 some they grow to an amazing size, and measure 

 above two yards long. The general colour of the 

 hair is reddish brown ; the inside of the thighs and 

 belly white, tinctured with yellow; the muzzle and 

 inside of the ears are of a whitish colour; the other 

 parts of the face are of a brownish grey. 



The Musmon is found in the wild and uncul- 

 tivated parts of Greece, Sardinia, Corsica, and in 

 the deserts of Tartary. 



The form of this animal is strong and muscular, 

 and it runs with great agility. It is very timorous, 

 and, when old, is seldom taken alive. It frequents 

 the highest summits of the mountains, and treads 

 securely on the most dangerous precipices. The 

 old Rams have often furious battles with each 

 other, in which one of the contending parties will 

 sometimes be thrown down from the heights on 

 which they stand, and .dashed in pieces at the 

 bottom. If their horns should by accident en- 

 tangle, they have been known to fall and perish 

 together. 



The chase of the Musmon is attended with great 

 danger. At the sight of a man, they fly to the 

 highest parts of the rocks, where they cannot easily 

 be followed: they are sometimes taken in pit-falls. 

 The Tartars pursue them with horses and dogs, 

 and, surrounding a pretty large tract of land, drive 

 them towards the centre where they are caught. 



The Kamschatkans pass the latter part of the 

 summer, with all their families, among the moun- 

 tains, in pursuit of these animals. The flesh and 

 fat of the young Musmons are esteemed, by the 

 natives, as most delicious eating. The skins serve 



