Sambur. 249 



horns and heads of gaur, sambur, spotted deer, bark- 

 ing deer, also tiger and leopard heads and skins. I 

 admired the sambur horns in particular, but I am 

 afraid I riled the worthy sportsman by saying that the 

 cow gaur in Burma could show better horns than the 

 largest bull's head which he possessed ; and as in this 

 trip I also came across the so-called Neilgherry ibex, 1 

 I will describe the beast here as I have only shot a 

 few specimens. Francis, the shikarie, went on two 

 clays ahead of me. We encamped on the Ooty side 

 of the great valley. Starting at daylight next morn- 

 ing, and looking down a natural slope, I was amazed to 

 see almost every crag occupied by an ibex. There must 

 have been over a hundred visible, nor did the herds 

 seem alarmed, but were somewhat cuddled together as 

 if for warmth, for at 5 A.M. on the top of the range, 

 the thermometer does not stand many degrees above 

 freezing point. I took out my binoculars, but even 

 with its aid I could only see one " saddle back," and 

 he was on an eminence, beyond his flock. I could 

 have killed a doe or perhaps two, but I had not come 

 all this way for that purpose. What I required was 

 a good head or two to add to my collection. How 

 to get within range of the old ram was the puzzle. 

 There was a nullah to my right rear, and, by following 

 it, I might reach a point whence I could get a shot. 

 I crawled along the side of the ravine, and when I 

 thought I was within about thirty yards of Master 

 Billy, I looked over the side, but the large male had 

 disappeared, and only kids and females were in view. 

 Francis now touched me and moved away, I following. 



1 Hemitragus Hylocrius, closely allied to the Himalayan tahir. 

 They are wild goats not ibex. 



