146 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



her back was turned, had come straight down, and had 

 obviously been seen. As we went up the rise I expected 

 to find all three in full flight. But when an ibex is 

 conscious of danger, without knowing exactly what it is, 

 she keeps on whistling and does not at once run away. 

 Evidently the view of Dudson had not been clear, for 

 when I got to the edge I saw the two females moving 

 excitedly about, whistling at intervals and looking in our 

 direction. I pushed the Lee-Metford, which I had taken 

 from Abdulla, over the top of the ridge, as I lay flat 

 with only half my head visible, and waited for the male 

 to appear. 



Apparently he had been lying down in the hollow, for 

 I presently saw him come slowly up towards the females, 

 and stand almost broadside on near the top of the ridge, 

 as if he had been asleep and was not fully awake. This 

 was the first good view I had had of him, and I perceived 

 that the best ibex I had yet seen was within lOO yards of 

 my rifle, and entirely unconscious of my presence. He 

 looked very fine as he stood there, with the gray sweep 

 of his horns almost coming back to his shoulders. As I 

 took aim, I found that a few twigs of the birch under 

 which he was standing would interfere with the shot, so 

 I slipped back, and going higher up the ridge pushed my 

 rifle before me as I crawled up, and found the animals 

 still in the same position. Clearly the male did not know 

 what to make of the excitement of the females. Re- 

 membering how high the rifle shoots, I took a very fine 

 sight, and saw the whole of his body above the bead as I 

 pulled the trigger. At the report he moved slightly up 

 the ridge and turned, showing me the whole of his 



