The Sierra Nevada 305 
A main winter resort is supplied by the Alpuxarras, and, 
beyond the dividing Valle de Lecrin, ibex are distributed along 
the whole series of mountain-ranges that lie along the Mediter- 
ranean as far as the Sierras Bermeja and Ronda. 
Among those subsidiary ranges, the following may here be 
specified as ibex-frequented, to wit: the Sierras de Nerja and 
Lujar near Motril, Sierra Tejéda lying south of the Vega de 
Granada (especially the part called C4sulas, which, with most of 
the range, is private property and preserved), Sierras de Competa 
and Alhama, and, nearer the sea, the Sierra Frigiliana belonging 
to the late Duke of Fernan Nunez, who secured trophies thereon 
exceeding thirty inches in length. 
Westward, in the Province of Malaga, lie the Sierra de Ojen, 
Sierra Blanca, and Palmitera (a great area of these being now 
preserved by Mr. Pablo Larios), and last the Sierra Bermeja, 
described in Wild Spain. Several of these ranges are of bare 
rock, while others are covered to their summits with gorse and 
other brushwood. 
The most enjoyable season for ibex-shooting (and on preserved 
ground the most favourable) is during August and September, 
when the snow has practically disappeared, except the permanent 
glaciers and stray patches in some northern ravines. Camp-life 
is then delightful and exhilarating and, given sound lungs and 
limbs, the game may be fairly stalked and shot. The photo 
shows a typical trophy—a grand ibex ram shot years ago on 
the Alcazdba, horns 284 inches—another specimen measuring 29 
inches is figured in Wild Spain. Our own experiences with ibex, 
however, are now rather remote and might appear out-of-date. 
We therefore content ourselves with the following extract from 
our work quoted. 
On a bitterly cold March morning we found ourselves, as day 
slowly broke, traversing the outspurs of the sierra—on the scene 
of the great earthquake of 1884, evidences of which were plentiful 
enough among the scattered hill-villages. Already many mule- 
teams, heavily laden with merchandise from the coast town of 
Motril, were wending their laborious way inland. It is worth 
noting that in front of five or six laden mules it is customary 
to harness a single donkey. This animal does little work; but 
always passes approaching teams on the proper side, and, more- 
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