756 ON THE SPANISH IBEX. 



the MediteiTaiiean sierras) most nearly assimilated to each other 

 in their more flattened and laterally compressed horns*. It is 

 gratifying to find that our rough field -observations are now 

 corroborated by Dr. Cabrera's skilled investigation and careful 

 (iross-sections. But again, it appears anomalous — assuming that 

 complete isolation only commenced some two centuries ago — that 

 the central group (now honoured with subspecific rank as C. p. 

 victorice) should have developed the greater difference. 



The females and young males of the Spanish Ibex are devoid 

 of the dark dorsal stripe, as is correctly shown in the plate in 

 ' Unexplored Spain,' at p. 140. They are of a dun-brown, uni- 

 colorous in coat as the Spanish Red-Deer ; but Dr. Cabrera is quite 

 justified in criticizing the second plate (op. cit. p. 967), at p. 216. 

 That slip should be debited, in the first instance, to the artist, 

 Mr. E. Caldwell, but the fault is wholly mine, since I should have 

 detected the mistake and had it corrected before passing the 

 drawing for reproduction. 



If permissible to express an opinion on the three beautiful 

 plates given by Dr. Cabrera, I would say that in life the Spanish 

 Ibex is rounder and bulkier in the barrel than can ever be 

 gathered from museum specimens, since skins shrink. 



In conclusion, may I express a fervent hope (since interest in 

 her vanishing Ibex has been aroused in Spain) that further 

 protection may be extended to the few surviving colonies ? 

 Within my own time, Ibex have been exterminated in several of 

 their earlier haunts. To-day they are at their last gasp in the 

 Pyrenees and in the Gerez (Portugal). Fortunately, in Credos, 

 Morena, and Bermeja, their future has been assured — though 

 only at the eleventh hour. Can our Spanish friends not see to 

 safeguarding the much-menaced remnant that yet survives on the 

 main chain of Nevada ? 



* Unfortunately, in ' Unexplored Spain,' in an effort to be concise, and to avoid 

 repetition, we omitted the word " laterally " ; but a reference to ' Wild Spain,' 

 p. 129, makes our meaning clear. 



I 



