496 THE COMMON IBEX. 



as three ounces of wool even in its original country, it required 

 the produce of ten goats for a shawl one yard and a half square. 

 Fortunately, however, it has been found that, by crossing the 

 Thibet goat with the Angora goat, a much improved, more 

 hardy, and economical breed is obtained, and of which a single 

 individual will yield sometimes as much as thirteen ounces of 

 wool in a season, equal in softness with that of the pure Thibet 

 breed, but of a still more silky appearance, and of a longer and 

 finer staple. 



THE COMMON IBEX. (Capra Ibex, Linn.) 

 Steinbock. Bouquetin des Alpes* 



In Europe this animal inhabits the Alps, the Apennines, the 

 Pyrenees, and the mountains of the Tyrol ; and in Asia, the 

 chain of mountains which extends from Taurus, between 

 Eastern Tartary and Siberia : it is common in the island of 

 Crete. It is considerably larger and more strong and active 

 than the common goat ; its hair is reddish brown in summer, 

 but grey in winter ; the beard (possessed only by the male) is 



