desecration; but they do not scruple to make tbe animal labor 
for their benefit, although they generally exempt a select number 
from service, and permit them to stray through villages and towns, 
where they procure food from pious contributors or others who 
impose upon themselves the charitable function. 
THE IBEX. 
( 
( 
his animal resembles the domestic goat in appearance, and j 
is a native of the Alps, Pyrenees, and other mountains in j 
Europe. The head of the Ibex is small, adorned with j 
| large curved horns, covered with nobs, and which, in some in- 
stances, have been found to exceed two yards in length. Its color ! 
j is of a deep brown, mixed with ash ; a streak of black runs along 
j the top of its back, and the belly and thighs are of a delicate i 
j fawn color. The female is a third smaller than the male, with j 
| smaller horns, which rarely exceed a length of eight inches. The j 
male ibex differs from the chamois by the length, thickness and ( 
) form of the horns : it is also more bulky, vigors and strong ; in } 
) other respects the two animals have the same manners and cus- 
| toms. The ibex is covered with a firm and solid skin, which, in | 
j winter, is covered with a double fur, with rough hair outwardly i 
'(S, 
