145 



" inches, rarely more than 12. Colonel W. Campbell gives the 

 " length as 6 feet 5 inches (inclusive of tail) ; height 3 feet 6 inches 

 "at the shoulder. These measurements appear to me to be 

 " unusually large, and I suspect are erroneous." 



With reference to these measurements, Colonel Douglas Hamilton 

 gives me, extracted from his journal, the following dimensions of 

 two male ibex : 



March 30th, 1856 Height at shoulder, 41 inches ; circum- 

 ference immediately behind the elbows 53. 



January 3rd, 1857 Height at shoulder, 42 inches ; circumfer- 

 ence of fore-arm, 12 inches ; this was an old " saddle back," the first, 

 mentioned was a brown buck, i. ., not a regular " saddle back." 



He also gives me two measurements taken in profile, to assist 

 him in making correct drawings ; and I record them, for they prove 

 that Doctor Jerdon, although generally wonderfully correct in 

 even the most minute details, has in this case under estimated the 

 size of the Neilgherry ibex. It will be seen that the second buck, 

 although taken as above stated, nearly equalled the length, 4 feet 

 2 to 4 feet 8, given by Jerdon as that of an adult male, measured, 

 it is to be supposed, along the back instead of merely at the sides. 

 The first buck mentioned by Colonel Hamilton, measured from 

 " chest to rump 45 inches," and the second from " nose to tail 50 

 inches," both of these measurements be it remembered were taken 

 in profile. 



Colonel Hamilton tells me that he has measured several other 

 males which were 40 inches in height at the shoulder, and that 

 although he hacf not any record to refer to, he felt nearly certain 

 a large female measured 35 inches, or one inch more than the 

 greatest height given by Jerdon to the male. 



Again, as regards the size of the horns of the Neilgherry wild- 

 goat, Jerdon does not appeal' to have seen any very fine specimens ; 

 for he says, that the horns are "occasionally 15 inches, rarely 

 "more than 12." 



My friend HAWKETB, vide page 156, says that the horns of the 

 buck run from 12 to 16, and that it is a point of honor with sports- 



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