Asiatic Ibex 275 



certain that the animal was formerly able to exist at comparatively low 

 elevations, and that its restriction to the high Alps is a relatively modern 

 event in its history. 



Habits. — In the days of its abundance the Alpine ibex was probably so 

 similar in its general mode of life to the Asiatic species that one account 

 will in the main serve for both. There is, however, some difference 

 between the two in respect to the times of reproduction. In the Alpine 

 ibex the pairing time is January, and the kids are born five months later, 

 about the end of June or beginning of July. Either one or two kids are 

 produced at a birth, and in size they are nearly the same as those of the 

 ordinary domesticated goat. In the Alps the old buck ibex, which keep 

 apart from the does at all times except the pairing season, ascend far 

 above the snow-line, and are thus denizens of a region to which the chamois 

 does not properly belong. The cry or bleat of the ibex is very similar to 

 that of the chamois, but more prolonged. 



8. The Asiatic Ibex — Capra sibirica 



Capra sibirica, Meyer, Zoo/. Anna/, vol. i. p. 397 (1794) ! Gray, List 

 Manini. Brit. Miis. p. 52 (1843), <^^'^- Vngidata Brit. Mas. p. 150 (1852), 

 Cat. Ruminants Brit. Mas. p. 52 (1872) ; Blasius, ^'w^f///. Dciitschiani/s,p. 481 

 (1851) ; Radde, Reise Ost-Si/)crien, vol. i. p. 243, pi. x. (1862) ; SevertzojfF, 

 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xviii. p. 333 (1878) ; Blanford, Scie?it. 

 Results Second Tar/cam/ Expcd. — Manim. p. 86 (1879) ; Fauna Brit. Ind. — 

 Mamm. p. 503 (1891) ; Scully, Proc. Zoo/. Soc. 1881, p. 208 ; P. L. Sclater. 

 Proc. Zoo/. Soc. 1886, p. 316 ; Prezewalski, Cat. Zoo/. Co//, p. 15 (1887) ; 

 W. L. Sclater, Cat. Mamm. Ind. Mus. pt. ii. p. 143 (1891) ; True, Proc, 

 U. S. Mus. vol. xvii. p. 6 (1894); Ward, Records of Big Game, p. 224 

 (1896). 



