Distribution 241 



naturalists have borrowed troni the vulgar classification, adopting it in many 

 instances against their better judgment. . . . The horns, too, vary so ex- 

 tensively in both cases, and the convexity of the line of profile is subject 

 to so many modifications, as to render the distinctions drawn from their 

 characters ot no practical value. On the presence or absence of the beard 

 it would be absurd to dwell as ofi'ering the seniblance of a generic character, 

 to distinguish between animals which actually produce together a mixed 

 breed capable ot continuing their race. From all these conclusions we are 

 led to infer that the sheep and the goat cannot properly be said to form the 

 types of separate genera." 



With this judgment I am very much inclined to agree, although, in 

 order to avoid complicating matters by a change of names which may not 

 meet with acceptation, I have thought it advisable to retain the ordinary 

 scheme of classification. 



By Dr. Gray the goats here included under the heading Capra were 

 divided into (i) Mgoccros, (2) Capra, and (3) Hircits ; the first division 

 including the tur, the second the ibex, and the third the common goat 

 and markhor. This, however, is obviously incorrect. It such divisions, 

 whether generic or subgeneric, are adopted at all, Capra obviously belongs 

 to the common goat. In Pallas's description of his genus JEgoceros the 

 species first mentioned is /E. ihcx, so that this generic term must stand 

 for the ibex group, thus superseding the later Ibex of Hodgson, and 

 leaving the tur without a separate designation at all. 



Bearing in mind, therefore, that if sub-generic divisions ot Capra are 

 adopted, a new term would be required for the tur group, and seeing that 

 the various groups of goats intergrade to a very great degree, I have 

 considered it advisable to make no such divisions at all. 



Distribution. — At the present day the mountainous districts of the 

 Eastern Holarctic region, impinging on the Oriental region in the 

 Himalaya, and with one outlying species in the mountains of the north- 



