Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-05-01
THE MOUFLON is SLY GAME.

THE MOUFlON IS SLY GAME.
An Animal Which Knowing sportsmen
Find on Corsican Hills.
There are some surprises awaiting the
sportsman who visits Corsica, few of
which are told about in The Badninton
Magazine The writer Of the article was
British naval officer, and the COrsican
commandment treated him and his party
very politely, refused to look at their
hunting permits and passports, gave
them a dinner with fine cigars and wine
captured from a brigand band by his
own gendarmes and sent for the best ma
tive guide to be put at their disposal.
What is more, he put a small squad Of
cavalry at their service to rescue any
member of the party so unfortunate as
to be captured and held for ransom.
The goatherd who served as guide
was a good one He knew the mouhon,
or wild mountain sheep, perfectly, and
it was through his efforts mainly that
the party was successful The writer car
ried 3S calibcr, double barreled ex-
press rife, shooting hard head bullet
A long, hard climb in the steep noun
tains, with frequent pauses for using
the telescope, resulted in sighting tie
quarry moving in a patch Of heather
which frequently hid them from view.
All but the old ram were feeding in a
restless, shifty manner He was perched
on an overhanging ledge looking out for
hunters The mouhon knows a thing or
) two, and when a flock are feeding they
: always have some keen old ram or eve
where it can see the country below best.
They are as wild as perhaps wilder
than, any Of their kind, whether found
| in Europe, Asia or America; but, like
others, they may be approached from
above, wind and ground permitting. No
bungler need hope for one, as they are
80 constantly hunted by natives as to be
always on the lookout The natives kill
at all times and kill all things from
lambs to rams. The first kill was by
good luck, not by reason Of skill, for the
animals ran past one Of the party, who
shot at so yards, missed the big ram and
hit another, which happened to be just
beyond, in the neck The throat shot is
q right good one to make. 1t kills quick |
er than either head or shoulder shots, |
which are somewhat easier to make
The guide refused to dress the killed
animal, "Why should he waste the best
part?" he asked. So he carried the 70
pounds five miles to camp, where he
got his choice and the Englishmen got
theirs.
Their camp was in an attractive place,
at the edge Of clump Of pine trees, at
least 1870 feet high, near a babbling
trout stream, just 10 miles from Corte
They bought some fresh milk, loaf Of
chestnut bread, and some goat milk
cheese, just to get acquainted with the
herders of big flock Of goats and
few sheep. Later they were welcomed
to huts of the herders, which shows the
best way to treat the natives of any re-
gion. more especially in a region where
native cavalry is put at one disposal by
good natured officials. If they had put
themselves on pinnacles for the herders
to look at, half the fun of the trip would
have been lost or gained in man hunt
ing.
Nocasual glance will detect the mouf-
Ion, even if it is wholly within the
range Of vision, for it possesses a mar
velous development of sight, great nose
cunning, and-what is more interesting
to the hunter-a discriminating knowl-
edge Of light and shade, which largely
contributes to its safety. The animals
get into places where their color blends
with that Of the background-an easy :
thing for them to do in that country Of !
neutral cOlors or shades-and there they
stand waiting for the hunter to show (
the end Of his little finger or the light ;
CLINT of his gun in the sunlight, when +
away they go, dashing over the rocks b
as If they were lawn.
The eve secretes her young in caves
and among the precipices they inhabit
else long ago they would have ceased
to exist. They are untamable and
fierce, using their horns ON the most de-
mure or warlike keepers indiscriminate.
ly, and only strong ropes will keep a
them from battering doors to flinders, a
Moufon venison, favored by wild q
thyme, Is a tasteful dish to all, but the a
natives do ma care to eat il a
Elevated Back Yards. !,
Some OF the second floor jewellers OF !;
fremont enjoy advantages Of which the
Of the first floors are deprived. =
In many parts Of that district the
iwelling houses are built adjoining.
,ome Of these houses are erected after 3
he cheapest plans possible, and in many Il
Instances the owners refuse to bear the
expenses Of having hills Sehind them Y
ut down.
BY this fact the occupants Of the first re
loor are deprived Of yard advantages, N
while those on the second and often on ?,
he third and fourth floors have them. VI
II Ia not an uncommon thing there =.
or an occupant Of the first floor to ask /,
he occupant Of the second or third, ex
May hang my clothes in your back T.
York Herald