Persian Wild Goat 263 



carefully over the curve, showed the left horn to be 552^ inches, and the 

 right, which was broken, 500 inches, and between the tips 24 inches." 



Distribution. — The islands of South-Eastern Europe (from most of which 

 it is now exterminated), and the mountains of South-Eastern Europe and 

 South- Western Asia, from the Caucasus through Persia to the confines of 

 Baluchistan, where it probably intergrades with the Sind race. Although 

 exterminated in the islands of the Grecian Archipelago, where it was 

 formerly abundant, the wild goat is stated by Dr. Forsyth Major still to 

 survive in the island of Tavolara, situated off the north-east coast of 

 Sardinia, where its fossilised remains also occur. According to Dr. Radde, 

 in the Caucasus this species is found in the Little Caucasus, or Armenian 

 Highlands, from the sea-level to heights of 12,000 feet, and on Mount 

 Ararat up to 14,000 feet. He also records it from the Upper Ardon, Western 

 Daghestan, forming the western extremity of the Great Caucasus. 



Habits. — In Asia Minor, according to Mr. C. G. Danford, the wild 

 goat is found either solitary or in small parties or herds varying in number 

 from ten to twenty up to as many as one hundred head. During summer 

 the old bucks keep to the higher mountains, being often met with on the 

 snow, while the does and kids frequent lower elevations. In winter both 

 sexes keep much more together, living at elevations of from 2000 to 3000 

 feet on rocky ground among bushes or scattered pines. In certain districts 

 they may even descend almost to the sea-level. Although at other times 

 extremely shy and wary, during the pairing season they can be approached 

 with ease, and may be attracted within range by a concealed hunter rolling 

 a few stones down the hillside. If surprised, they utter a kind of short 

 snort, and immediately make off' in a canter. Their agility among rocks is 

 little short of marvellous, but if driven down to the lowlands they can be 

 easily caught by dogs, as is done in Afghanistan. When danger threatens, 

 the oldest male takes command of the herd, and carefully surveys the line 

 of advance or retreat before permitting the others to follow. Grass, the 



