THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
Mr E. N. Buxton, who has successfully hunted these animals, of which 
he gives an excellent account in “ Short Stalks,” says: 
“ Though he lives on ground more or less steep, it is easy, and he has 
no occasion for any remarkable feats of agility. On the other hand, his 
best safeguard lies in the dense macquia which covers the hills. At this 
elevation it is exclusively composed of tall, 4 bruyere ’ heather, from 
which the so-called ‘ briar-root * pipes are made. This grows from 
two to six feet high. If this covert were continuous, it would, of course, 
be impossible to see an animal which stands little over two feet, but 
much of it has been burnt, and there are natural openings beside. 
It is in these openings that he must be sought when feeding. As all 
wild sheep are constitutionally restless, and never remain long in one 
place, it will be understood how difficult it is, even when they have 
been spied, to hold them with the glass. They are constantly disap- 
pearing in the macquia , and have to be refound again and again before 
a stalk can be successfully effected. When they are alarmed or * at 
gaze,* they have a habit, or at least the rams have, of placing them- 
selves in the middle of a bush of macquia , or in the shadow which it 
casts. The ewes, who are naturally less conspicuous, do this in a less 
degree. The moufflon are also assisted by the wonderful alertness of 
their eyes. I do not think that they see at a great distance, but they 
detect an exceedingly slight sign at a moderate range. . . . When 
startled they whistle like a chamois, and as a Highland sheep occa- 
sionally does.” 
Mr S. H. Whitbread says that: 
“ When 4 put away ’ they will make off at a great pace till they are 
out of sight behind some ridge or shoulder of the hill; they then imme- 
diately lie down in a place where they get the wind of the sportsman, 
who follows under the impression that they are still a long way ahead.” 
The native method of hunting moufflon both in Corsica and Sardinia 
is to drive the animals to well-known passes. This usually results in the 
moufflon being seen and females and young being killed, but the old 
rams are seldom killed in this way. There are, however, a few native Sar- 
dinians who now understand the use of the telescope and the art of stalking, 
and one of these can usually be obtained from Mr Meloni, of Lanusei, who 
will fit out the sportsman and give him the best advice as to the ground. 
The moufflon will breed freely with various races of domestic sheep, 
the results of the cross usually being handsome animals of pronounced 
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