QUATERNARY FAUNA OF GIBRALTAR. ily 
cites the form as a ‘‘ Bouquetin;” and there are no good grounds to believe, more 
than in the case of the Chamois, Saiga, Reindeer, Horse, &c., that it differs speci- 
fically from the living form or forms now inhabiting the Alps and Pyrenees. 
Having thus traced in one form or another the existence of a large form of Goat 
back to a very remote period, it remains to inquire to which of these the Gibraltar 
remains belong. 
The remains of two well-marked caprine ruminants abound in the collections from 
Windmill Hill—one of much larger size than the other, and whose remains are more 
numerous even than those of Cervus, and a smaller one, whose remains occur but very 
very sparingly, and, as it would seem, not among the most ancient forms. 
Although there can be no doubt of its belonging to the subgenus Jéer of some 
authors, some difficulty has been experienced, and some doubt perhaps may still be 
entertained, with respect to the exact identification of the larger of these caprine 
species. This difficulty in the main arises from the circumstance that we at present 
are not in possession of sufficiently minute and accurate knowledge of the osteological 
differences between the supposed distinct European species of Jbex, which have been 
defined chiefly from external characters alone, included among which are the form and 
direction of growth of the horns. 
As in the case of the fossil or subfossilized form we have little or no information on 
these points, the principal means of comparison, as things at present stand, are wanting. 
It is true that, as regards the important character afforded by the horns, some little 
information may be gathered from the horn-cores. ‘his is less than might at first 
sight be expected ; for the sbape of the horn, so far as my observation has extended, can 
be only very distantly surmised from that of its core. In the case of a fully developed 
male, there is no doubt that we may trace characteristic features in the cores, more 
especially as to the presence or absence of a spiral twist; but in that of the cores 
belonging to female skulls I apprehend that very close similarity will be found to exist 
between the two marked varieties or species of European Jéex. Unfortunately, so far 
as I can perceive, all the horn-cores that have been procured in the Gibraltar collection 
are of the small size and, as it may be termed, featureless character belonging to those 
of the female. 
As, however, it will be seen that I have endeavoured to arrive at some distinctive 
characters from other particulars in the bones, I would say a few words with respect to 
the still perhaps not altogether settled point concerning the number of so-termed 
European species belonging to the [dea group. 
Whilst some writers, as Blasius, appear inclined to regard the Alpine and Pyrenean 
Ibex as merely varieties, distinguished mainly by the curvature of the horns and the 
presence or absence of a beard, and to look at Capra hispanica of Schimper as a sub- 
variety of the Pyrenean, by others these three forms have been considered specifically 
distinct. 
voL. X.—PartT 1, No. 9.—August 1st, 1877. R 
