The Sakin, or Asiatic Ibex 



amiss. One which Mr. Darrah eventually secured 

 travelled a long way without showing much signs of 

 suffering, when it had received five bullets. 



Exclusive of the Pir Panjal, and apparently the 

 Kaj-nag range, the Asiatic ibex inhabits the higher 

 elevations of the Himalaya from the neighbourhood 

 of Kashmir at least as far eastwards as the source of 

 the Ganges ; while, as already mentioned, it extends to 

 Mongolia, Lhasa, and Shigatze. 



THE MARKHOR 



( Capra falconeri) 



Native Names. — Markhor^ Pushtu, Punjabi, and 

 South Kashmiri ; Rache^ Raphoche (male), and 

 Rawache (female), Ladaki ; Rexkuh^ Matt (male), 

 AND Hit OR Haraf (female), Brahui ; Pachin and 

 Sara (male), Buzkuhi (temale), Baluchi. 



(Plate iv, figs. 3, 4, 5, 5^) 



Although ibex are represented by several species 

 and have a comparatively wide geographical distribution, 

 the magnificent goat generally known by its Pushtu 

 name of markhor (snake-eater) is restricted to the 

 mountains of Afghanistan, Kashmir, Baltistan, and the 

 neighbouring districts, where it is represented by a 

 single species. This species varies, however, locally 

 to such a degree in the shape of its horns that were 

 only the extreme modifications known they would be 

 entitled to rank as separate species ; but the inter- 

 mediate forms serve to connect these types so closely 

 as to indicate that they are really phases or races of 

 a single variable species. In other words, the extreme 

 types may be regarded as incipient species, requiring 

 only the extinction of the intermediate ones to permit 



121 



