INDIAN SHOOTING 321 



XXXVIIL— THE IBEX OF PERSIA AND ^\^T>Yi {Capra agagrus) 



Native names: ' Pasang,' male ; ^ Boz,' female ; generally Boz Pasang 

 in Persia {Blanford) ; Kayeek in Asia Minor {Danford) 



This ibex extends from the Taurus mountains in Asia Minor, 

 through the Caucasus range and Persia, to Afghanistan, Be- 

 luchistan and Sindh. 



It is a smaller animal than the Himalayan ibex, and does 

 not ascend to the same altitude, preferring, according to Mr. 

 Danford, elevations of 2,000 to 5,000 ft., while 8,000 ft. is 

 about the lowest limit of the Himalayan variety. In Beluch- 

 istan and Afghanistan these ibex and O. Blanfordi are found 

 on the same ground, just as Capra Jerdoni and Ovis cydoceros 

 are in the Suleiman range ; and this peculiar trait of preferring 

 hot low hills is, in the writer's estimation, the great point of 

 difference between Capra cegagrus, Capra Jerdoni and Ovis 

 cydoceros on the one side, and Capra sibirica^ Capra megaceros 

 and Ovis Vignei on the other. 



The general colour of the buck Capra cBgagrus is brown 

 with a dark hne down the back, and a black beard, but the last 

 not so profuse as in Capra sibirica. The females are lighter 

 in colour, and have small horns. The horns are quite different 

 from those of any other species of ibex ; instead of having a 

 flat front and being thinner behind than in front, as most other 

 ibex horns are, these horns have the edge in front, a scimitar- 

 like ridge running up the front of the horn, wavy but unbroken 

 r about one-third above the head, and then represented by 

 lobs which spring up at some distance apart for about another 

 ;rd, when the ridge appears again, but rapidly dies away 

 owards the point. The sides of the horn too are smooth, the 

 :ter side rounded and the inner flat, the knobs not running 

 - ^wn the sides as in other ibex. 



In Persia and Afghanistan these ibex are generally shot in 

 drives. The members of the Afghan Boundary Commission 

 had a great day with them. 



II. V 



