THE SAKIN OR ASIATIC IBEX 



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:Jf 



Head of Thian Shan race of Asiatic Ibex. From Lord Elphinstone's specimen. 



The SAKIN or ASIATIC IBEX (Capra sibirica). 



The first of the true ibexes, in all of which the long scimitar-shaped 

 horns carry bold transverse knots on the front surface. In the present 

 species the horns are characterised by their large size and well- 

 developed front surface ; the second distinctive feature being the long 

 beard of the males. Height at shoulder from 40 to 42 inches ; weight 

 about 206 Ibs., when cleaned from 128 to 153 Ibs. 

 Distribution. The mountains of Central Asia, from near Lhasa, the 

 Thian Shan, and the Altai to the Himalaya (exclusive of the Pir 

 Panjal), and from the neighbourhood of Herat to Kumaon and 

 adjacent districts as far east as the source of the Ganges. Several 

 local races of this species are recognised ; the typical race (C. 

 sibirica typica), of the Sahan range, the Irtish race (C. s. altaica\ 

 the Thian Shan race (C. s. almasyt}, the Gilgit race (C. s. pedri\ 

 the Katutay ibex (C. s. lydekkeri), the Baltistan ibex (C. s. wardi], 

 and the Himalayan ibex (C. s. sacin\ from the mountains to the 

 northward of Kashmir. 



