382 THE STORY OF THE WILD GOAT. 



it is subjected, it exists in vast numbers. On the Kuh-i-barf, a not very lofty 

 or extensive hill, constantly shot over, near Shiraz, I once counted over a 

 hundred in a herd, which had been driven toigether by twoi days' consecutive 

 fusillade. It is marvelously shy and wary. In my earlier residence in P'ersia 

 I spent many a. weary day after them, but never managed tO' bag a buck. Even 

 native sportsmen, though admirable shots and thoroughly familiar with 

 every nook and cranny of the hills, rarely get one by fair stalking; most of 

 those killed being obtained by building a wall of loose stones near water and 

 shooting the goats when drinking. The males drink in the morning and 

 evening only, but the females, in hot weather, at least, drink alsoi at midday. 

 Sixty miles north of Shiraz I came suddenly upon a herd O'f twenty or more 

 does and kids, drinking by the roadside, a couple of hundred yards from the 

 foot of the hills. Except when alarmed, bucks and does seem to keep apart. 



In Baluchistan these goats inhabit barren rocky hills, but in parts of Asia 

 Minor they are found on foTest-clad uplands. In such localities they may 

 often be found within hearing of the drovers on the roads, or even of the 

 railways ; but this confidence is accompanied by exceeding watchfulness. The 

 number in a flock in these districts is generally from four tO' ten, and at the 

 time of my observations bucks and does were found together. Sentinels are 

 almost always posted tO' warn the flock, these being relieved at short intervals ; 

 and it appears that this sentry-duty is undertaken according to seniority, the 

 youngest animals commencing first, and the oldest buck taking his turn last. 

 In Asia Minor pasang are hunted both by driving and by stalking; but they 

 are so cunning that the former method is not generally very successful. The 

 Cabulis hunt them on the lower ground of Afghanistan with greyhounds. 



The bezoar-stone, so. highly esteemed in Persia as an antidote tO' poison 

 and a remedy for several diseases, is a concretion found in the stomach of the 

 pasang, from whence it derives its old European name of Pazen, or Pasen. 



The wild goats of the Isle of Giura are probably derived from a domestic 

 race, perhaps crossed with the pasang. Goats have also run wild in many 

 other places, more especially mountainous islands like St. Helena, Tavolara 

 near Sardinia, and Juan Fernandez. In St. Helena these wild goats have 

 completely destroyed a large portion of the native flora, and this has resulted 

 in the disappearance of much of the fauna. Goats were introduced by the 

 Spaniards into Juan Fernandez in the year 1563. Tliese soon increased 

 enormously, and in order to diminish their numbers dogs were subsequently 

 let loose, and likewise ran wild. 



