CAPRA SIBIRICA. 293 



and also near the seurce of the Ganges, where, however, it is rare. It 

 occurs in many other localities on the south side of the great Himalayan 

 chain, and is not restricted, as stated, to the Tibetan slopes of the 

 Himalayas ; where, however, it is more numerous than in the ranges 

 to the south. It extends through Central Asia to Siberia. 



The Himalayan Ibex is " agile and graceful in its movements," says 

 Colonel Markham, " and frequents the highest ground near the snows 

 where food is to be obtained. The sexes live apart generally, often in 

 flocks of one hundred and more. In October the males descend and 

 mix with the females, which have generally twins in June and July. It 

 is an exceedingly wary and timid animal, and can make its way in an 

 almost miraculous manner over the most inaccessible-looking ground. 

 No animal excels the Ibex in endurance and agility." 



Adams states that many are killed by avalanches, and that they are 

 much preyed on by the Panther (i. e. the Ounce). He also states that 

 the female has in general only one kid. 



I have only seen the Ibex near Chini, in the Sutlej valley. In some of 

 the villages high up the valleys there, many are killed every year during 

 the winter, and their horns may be seen hung up on all the temples. 



Mr. Vigne states that one or two hundred are killed yearly in Balti, in 

 winter, when forced to descend to the valleys. In Ladak they are snared 

 at night, and shot in the gray dawn of the morning when they venture 

 down to the streams to drink, They are killed for the sake of the soft 

 under fleece, which, in Kashmir,' is called Asali tus. This is used as a 

 lining for shawls, for stockings, gloves, and is woven into the fine cloth 

 called T-tisi. No wool is so rich, so soft, and so full. The hair itself is 

 manufactured into coarse blanketing for tents, and twisted into ropes. 



A skin of an ibex killed in the Balti valley by Major Strutt, B.A., 

 was much darker than any I have seen. Its general colour was a rich hair- 

 brown, with a yellowish-white saddle on the middle of the back, and a 

 dark mesial line ; the head, neck, and limbs were dark rich glossy 

 sepia-brown, with a still darker central line on the front of the legs ; the 

 belly was brown, grizzled with yellowish-white. Others were seen by 

 Major Strutt in the same locality yet darker. The horns did not appear 

 to differ from those of individuals of the ordinary colour. Major 

 Strutt, who has shot many in different parts of the hills, never saw any 

 of the dark race except in Balti. 



Dr. Adams in his list of animals of India and Kashmir, gives Capra 



