142 Unexplored Spain 
present stock. In a letter (the composition of which would cost 
some anxiety) the Guarda of the Madrigal de la Vera—one portion 
only of the ‘‘ sanctuary ’—reports: “It is difficult to count the 
ibex. Sometimes we see more, sometimes less. Yesterday on 
the Cabeza Nevada we counted 39 rams and 22 females together. 
On the other side we counted 29 in one troop, 19 in another, 12 
in another, besides smaller lots. We probably saw 160 or 170, 
and we could not see all. Some of the old rams are very big, and 
it would be advisable that some be shot.” Another report (at 
same date) from the ‘“‘Hoyos del Espino,” estimates the ibex 
there to exceed 200 head. The two reports go to show that the 
continuity of the race is fairly secured. 
[A similar cession of sole hunting-rights to the King was 
simultaneously made by the owners of the ‘“ Central Group” of 
the Picos de Europa in Asturias. There are no ibex in that 
Cantabrian range; the graceful act was there inspired by a desire 
to preserve the chamois, animals with which we deal in another 
chapter. | 
The Spanish ibex is found at six separate points in the 
Peninsula, each colony divided from its fellows as effectually 
as though broad oceans rolled between. The six localities are :— 
(1) The Pyrenees—which we have not visited. 
(2) Sierra de Grédos, as above defined, and as described in 
greater detail hereafter. 
(3) Sierra Moréna, a single isolated colony near Fuen-Caliente, 
now preserved (see next chapter). 
(4) Sierra Nevdda and the Alpuxarras (ef. infra). 
(5) The mountains along the Mediterranean, which are 
properly western outliers of Nevdda, but which are usually 
grouped as the “ Serrania de Ronda,” some lying within sight of 
Gibraltar. Several of the most important ranges are now pre- 
served by their owners (cf. infra). 
(6) Valencia, Sierra Martés. This forms a new habitat 
hitherto unrecorded, and of which we only became aware through 
the kindness of Mr. P. Burgoyne of Valencia, who has favoured us 
with the annexed photo of an ibex head killed (along with a 
smaller example) at Cuevas Altas in the mountain-region known 
as Pefias Pardas in that province, February 22, 1909. The 
dimensions read as follows :— 
