INDIAN SHOOTING 309 



they do not become alarmed at the sight of man at a distance ; 

 but as they are a good deal driven about, especially by the cul- 

 tivators whose crops at the foot of the hills they feed on at 

 night, no liberties can be taken during the stalk, and the sides of 

 the ravines being often excessively steep, good noiseless stalk- 

 ing shoes are requisite. 



XXXV. OVIS BLANFORDI 



This variety is found in Khelat, and a few specimens have 

 been procured near Quetta. Its horns are described as being 

 longer and more slender than those of O. cydoceros or O. 

 Vignei, and as having a second twist outwards at the ends. It 

 has a white beard, unlike either shapoo or oorial. 



XXXVI. MARKHOR (Capra megaceros vel Falconeri) 



Native names : 

 Cashmere, ' Markhor ' ; Ladak, * ftache* ; Astor, 1 Boom ' 



Whether this king among goats deserves his name of ' snake- 

 eater ' or not is hardly likely to be settled. Shikaris all believe 

 that markhor do eat snakes, some going as far as to say that 

 they suck the snakes out of their holes, and swallow them like 

 macaroni ; and Colonel Kinloch supports the theory. 



But though some hundreds of markhor have been shot by 

 Europeans, the fact has hitherto not been proved ; and the 

 writer ventures in all humility to suggest that the tale is derived 

 from some old legend, and refers, in spite of the Persian name 

 which may have become corrupted, to the long snake-like 

 horns. 



Be this as it may, an old markhor swaggering along a ledge 

 on a precipitous hillside, with his long black beard and white 

 mane floating down to his knees, showing off every inch of his 

 beautiful horns as no beast knows better how to do, except 

 perhaps a really big stag in the rutting season is one of the 

 most glorious sights in the Himalayas. 



The beast looks such a gentleman with his lean head and 



