Matterhorn Mystery

Hi Geoff,

Just back from a week in the Swiss Alps. Heavy snow - 60cm fell in one night. So much for spring. But the blizzard conditions did drive a group of mammals down to the forests just above Zermatt. Realising that some of my previous photos have been rather too large, sharp and perfectly exposed, I'm rather proud of this snap on my Blackberry. It was cold, the brandy was taking effect, the gondola was shaking... Just the sort of lbj challenge that I know you love. As C can testify, I was cock-a-hoop. A new species for me. But can you work it out?

On second thoughts, you should simply get points for spotting any mammal in this shot. So I'll save you the hair pulling - it's a Chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra. Our first bovid on Mammalogia I believe. Apart from my 736 sheep of course.

And here's the Matterhorn for good measure - the dots are, as you would know, alpine choughs.

So it's a nice round 10 species each.

Graham