EAST CAUCASIAN TUR OR BHARAL 



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Head of East Caucasian Tur. 



EAST CAUCASIAN TUR or BHARAL (Capra cylindricornis). 



A very different-looking creature from the last is the wild goat 

 commonly designated by sportsmen the " Caucasian bharal " ; this 

 name being derived from the resemblance of its horns to those of the 

 true Himalayan bharal. In spite of this point of resemblance, its 

 affinities are, however, evidently with the goats, although it not im- 

 probably indicates a step from the more typical members of that group 

 in the direction of the sheep. In addition to the peculiar form of its 

 horns, this tur is characterised by the extreme shortness of the beard, 

 which merely forms a curling fringe on each side of the chin, instead of 

 the long central tuft observable at certain -seasons in the West 

 Caucasian species. The general colour of the fur is uniform dull 

 brown, except on the chin, the tip of the tail, and portions of 

 the legs, where it is blackish brown. Height at shoulder about 

 3 feet. 



Distribution. The Eastern Caucasus, from Kasbek to 

 Daghestan. 



