CAPRINE 143 



Ibex sibiricus, Nehring, Tundren und Steppen, p. Ill, 1890. 

 Capra (Ibex) sibirica, Camerano, Mem. Ac. Sci. Torino, ser. 2, vol. 

 Ivi, p. 284, 1906. 



ASIATIC IBEX. 



Typical locality northern slope of Sayansk Mountains, in 

 the neighbourhood of Munku Sardyx, west of Lake Baikal. 



Nearly related to C. ibex, but the size considerably larger 

 (the height at the shoulder sometimes reaching as much as 

 about 42 inches), the horns often larger, and the beard longer 

 and more profuse. Horns very massive, with the front 

 surface very wide, without any bevelling of the outer edge, 

 and the outer side of the bold transverse knots almost as 

 much developed as the inner ; the section being completely 

 triangular, with the hind angle compressed. Hair, in winter, 

 long, coarse, and brittle, developed into a dorsal crest, and 

 with a thick layer of under-fur ; in summer short. Usually 

 a more or less defined light saddle-patch, which may extend 

 over much of back and sides. General colour variable, 

 but usually some shade of brown in summer, and lighter 

 (frequently yellowish white) in winter. Dorsal stripe, tail, 

 and frequently beard blackish brown ; under-parts and most 

 or whole of limbs dark. Maximum horn-length (in Tian Shan 

 race) 58 inches along front curve, with a girth of 11 inches. 



The distributional area includes the high mountains of 

 Central Asia, from the neighbourhood of Lhasa and Lake 

 Baikal, the Tian Shan, and the Altai to the Himalaya 

 (exclusive of the Pir Panjal), and from the Herat district 

 to Kumaon and adjacent provinces as far east as the source 

 of the Ganges. 



The species has been divided into a large number of local 

 races, but as many of these are known merely by their 

 horns, it is practically impossible to draw up a " key." 



A. Capra sibirica sibiriea. 



Capra sibirica typica, Lorenz, DenJts. K. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. Ixxx, 

 p. 95, pi. i, 1906; Lydekker, Game Animals of India, etc. p. 116, 

 1907 (nee Wild Oxen, Sheep, and Goats, p. 281, 1898) ; Ward, 

 Records of Big Game, cd. 6, p. 369, 1910. 



Typical locality Sayansk Mountains, west of Lake Baikal. 

 General colour in winter dirty yellowish white, tending 



