HIMALAYAN TAJ/ A' 



JI 3 



much compressed, and flattened on the sides; towards the base, where they almost 

 touch each other, they are rather rounder, though they are always flat at the 

 back. In front they are keeled, and, diverging from the base, they curve back- 

 ward, to approach each other at the tips. The tahr has a short tail, bare 

 beneath, hard patches on the knees and breast, short hair on the head, and long 

 hair on the body. Old bucks carry on their neck, shoulders, and breast a long 

 shaggy mane, hanging down to their knees. The general colour is a deep brown 

 or reddish brown, the face and fore part of the legs being very dark, and in some 



cases almost black ; the bucks are ___ 



pale or rusty red on the hind side of g 

 their legs, and, when old, show an 

 indistinct stripe running along the 

 back. 



The tahr has a shoulder-height 



t> 



i 



HIMALAYAN TAHB. 



of 36 to 40 inches, a length of about 56 inches to the root of the tail, and a 

 tail 3 inches long. The horns of the bucks measure from 12 to 15 inches 

 along the curve, those of the does being much smaller. On ground where it 

 seems almost impossible for any other animal to place its feet, the tahr moves 

 with the greatest ease. Like goats, these ruminants collect in herds, the sexes 

 keeping separate during most of the year, the females being found in more open 

 country than the males. They pair in October, and in June or July their one 

 offspring is born. 



VOL. II. — 8 



