IBEX. 



365 



Mr. Pennant and Dr. Pallas that this, as well as 

 the Caucasan Ibex, may have been a stock or 

 original from which the common goat is derived ; 

 and in confirmation of this idea we may add, that 

 in the Journal de Phyiique, for the year 1786, it is 

 affirmed, that this animal has bred with the com- 

 mon domestic Goat. 



The Ibex is found in several parts of Europe 

 and Asia. It inhabits the Carpathian and Pyre- 

 nman mountains, various parts of the Alps^ more 

 particularly the Rhcetian Alps, in the midst of 

 snow and glacieres. In Asia it occurs on the sum- 

 mits of the chain of mountains extended from 

 Taurus, and continued between eastern Tartary 

 and Siberia ^. It also inhabits the traqt beyond 

 the Lena, and in all probability may be a native 

 of Kamstchatka. In Arabia it inhabits the pro^ 

 vince of Hedsjaes, and is there known by tlie 

 name of Baeden. Lastly, it is found in the high 

 mountains of the island of Crete, where the Cau- 

 casan Ibex has also been discovered. 



It is an animal of ^'reat strength and agility, 

 and is considerably larger than a common domes- 

 tic Goat. Its colour is a deep hoary or greyish 

 brown ; much paler or whitish beneath, and on the 

 insides of the limbs ; the outsides of Avhich are 

 dusky or blackish on the lower part : the body is 

 of a thick, strong form ; the head rather small, 

 the eyes large, the horns extremely large and 

 long, so a3 sometimes to measure three feet iii 



* Pennant, 



