14^ Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



female wild goat from the Central Caucasus, the survivor of a pair shipped 

 by Mr. H. H. P. Deasy, was exhibited alive in the menagerie of the 

 Zoological Society of London, and is figured by Mr. P. L. Sclater in the 

 Proceedings ot the Society for 1H93 (p. 729) as Capra caiicasica. It does not, 

 however, seem certain that the animal in question was not a specimen of 

 the wild goat, and nt)t a tur at all in the sense in which that term is used 

 here. Still, it is not unlike the female figured by Pallas to which reference 

 is made above. 



Judging trom the notes given by Prince Demidofl-'" in his Hunting Trips 

 in the Ci/ncasns, the western tur is very similar in its general habits to ibex 

 and other wild goats. It feeds, for instance, on the grazing grounds 

 afiorded by the upland meadows, and retires to the more precipitous and 

 less accessible ground for repose or when threatened by danger. When 

 feeding, sentinels are posted to give the alarm to the Rock sh.ould occasion 

 arise, and a mid-day siesta is always enjoyed. A small flock is described by 

 the Prince in the following words : — 



" There were seven of them, three of which carried good heads, the 

 other tour being smaller and lighter in colour. They were quietly feeding 

 upwards towards the rocks, where they probably intended to repose during 

 tlie heat ot the day. Now and then one of them would lie down, when 

 another would come up, and giving him a prod with his horns, make 

 him get up. As time was pressing, and all around seemed pretty safe, we 

 proceeded with the intention of cutting ofi:' their retreat to the rocks. The 

 wind was steady, and everything appeared to favour our enterprise, when 

 suddenly, on looking at them once more to make sure that they were 

 undisturbed, one of the smaller ones gave signs of uneasiness, and in a 

 few seconds they were all on the move towards the higher ground." 



The unexpected appearance of the baggage ponies of the Prince's party 

 on the scene was the cause of the movement ; and it was not till after a 

 long tramp that a buck was bagged on the higlier ground. It will be 



