460 On the Caucasian Mountain- Goat. 



ceros cegagrus^ Pall.) are met with ; but, as Radde remarks, 

 H. cegagrus is here hj far the most numerous. 



C. caucasica is met with first on the western slope of 

 Dykh-tau and beyond, at the sources of the Chegem, Baksan, 

 Malka, Kuban, Teberda, Marukh, Zelenchuk, Urup, Laba, 

 and as far as the sources of the Bielaia ; whether beyond this 

 to the W., I cannot speak positively ; but I think not, because 

 the range here becomes so low as hardly to afford a suitable 

 habitat for this animal. 



In this way Capra caucasica frequents part of the western 

 half of the main Caucasian chain for 200 miles in extent. 

 My observations having been made throughout the whole of 

 this region, I was able to detect some marked distinctions be- 

 tween those inhabiting its westernmost parts and the rest. 

 Their horns are comparatively short, thick, with a more de- 

 cided outward turn at the base, and with large nodules on the 

 anterior side. Their section taken near the base proved 

 them to be quadrangular with rounded corners, rather than 

 triangular. The circumference at the base of the horn as 

 compared with the length measured along the anterior surface 

 is equal to half or a little more. The colour of the fur of this 

 goat is also perceptibly lighter. 



But the typical Capra caucasica has relatively long horns, 

 fewer nodules, the section at the base is more of a triangle, 

 and the circumference of the horn at the base is invariably 

 less than one half its length. I had comparatively few oppor- 

 tunities of observing this short-horned goat, and will therefore 

 not venture to express an opinion as to whether it should be 

 considered an independent species or a variety. Judging 

 from its horns it is closely allied to the typical G, caucasica 

 and therefore cannot be considered a distinct species. 



While travelling between Elbruz and Dykh-tau, i. e. in 

 the eastern half of this region, and examining the horns of 

 the goats preserved there by the hunters, I observed this pecu- 

 liarity, that their tips were much closer together, and in this 

 respect resembled those of C. Pallasii. In every other respect 

 they assimilate with C. caucasica^ and, judging from a speci- 

 men killed, have no distinguishing peculiarities. 



Thus the mountains of the Caucasus, with their luxuriant 

 alpine pasturage, innumerable labyrinths of crags, with their 

 glaciers and snow-fields, afford a home for several kinds of 

 goats. Of these Hircus cegagrus keeps further south than 

 the others, and is distinguished by its flattened, two-sided 

 horns. Capra Pallasii is unquestionably the oldest type, and 

 liolds an intermediate place between goat and sheep. It in- 

 habits the Central Caucasus. Probably from this and several 



