Ibex Shooting in the Thian Shan Mountains 



we had struggled up the mountain and down the 

 other side with our heavy loads, and we reached 

 camp at 7 o'clock, picking up the roebuck on, 

 the way. 



The first ibex measured 43 24 inches, the second 

 46^2 inches, while the roe were 13^ and 12^/2 

 inches. 



Of course, we were very anxious to get sheep, 

 of which a few were still to be found on the rolling 

 plains to the eastward, and after much hard work 

 and some weeks devoted to them, Chew got a fair 

 head, while I was unsuccessful, as I could not get 

 within shooting distance of the only bunch of rams 

 I saw. The rams were very wild, and at this time 

 of year Were in little bands by themselves, usually 

 occupying such a position that they could not be 

 approached nearer than half a mile, often not so 

 close. I think their wildness was due more to 

 danger from wolves than from man, as they were 

 seldom hunted by men, but were continually dis- 

 turbed by the very large wolves which abound in 

 this part of the mountain, while the numerous 

 skeletons of old rams showed the toll the wolves 

 took. I have heard it said that if a wolf can get 

 within eight hundred yards of a ram he could run 

 him down. 



The wolves were much like our timber wolf, 



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