ASIATIC GOATS 321 



factory pet, usually preferring to spend the greater part 

 of its time on the roof of the house. 



The Himalayan species (Capra sabirica) is a very similar 

 animal to the Alpine Ibex. A well-grown buck will stand 

 forty or forty-two inches at the shoulder ; a doe is 

 usually quite one-third smaller. Horns frequently attain 

 a length of forty-two inches, though they have been known 

 to exceed four feet. Frequenting varying altitudes accord- 

 ing to the season of the year, they are so familiar with the 

 noise of falling rocks and avalanches that they do not 

 necessarily take alarm at the sound of a gun ; but let one 

 of the animals perceive anything suspicious, and it will 

 issue a warning whistle that will send the herd madly racing 

 to a place of safety. 



MARKHOR (Capra falconeri). 

 Plate XXXI. Fig. 2. 



The Markhor, the king of wild Goats, inhabiting the 

 North-west of India, Afghanistan, and neighbouring regions, 

 is larger than the ibex. Its great flattened horns sometimes 

 exceed five feet in length ; they are twisted, but with only a 

 few turns. Like the ibex the males have a large black 

 beard, and in the older animals the long hair is extended 

 to the chest and shoulders, very much in the same fashion 

 as the Barbary Sheep. It seeks rocky mountain forests, 

 and consequently can reach cover more quickly than in the 

 open mountain country. The Markhor has but little under- 

 fur, and the cold weather causes it to descend to com- 

 paratively low regions. An animal in confinement at the 

 Zoological Gardens, notwithstanding it was hampered 

 by a heavy chain, always contrived to reach the top of 

 the wall of its pen. 



^TAHR (Hemitragus jemlaicus). 

 Plate XXXI. Fig. i. 



The Tahr, a Himalayan Goat-like animal, is one of 

 several species that differ in various particulars from the 



22 



