GOATS. 241 



observer, that one of these goats, which had missed its footing, saved itself by 

 alighting on its horns. Writing of this species in Persia, St. John observes that "in 

 spite of the constant persecution to which it is subjected, it exists in vast numbers. 

 On the Kuh-i-barf, a not very lofty or extensive hill, constantly shot over, near 

 Shiraz, I once counted over a hundred in a herd, which had been driven together 

 by two days' consecutive f usilade from half a dozen shikaris. . . . The ibex," as Sir 

 Oliver calls the animal, " is marvellously shy and wary. In my earlier residence in 

 Persia I spent many a weary day after them, but never managed to bag a buck. 

 Even native sportsmen, though admirable shots, and thoroughly familiar with every 

 nook and cranny of the hills, rarely get one by fair stalking ; most of those killed 

 being obtained by building a wall of loose stones near water, and shooting the goats 

 when drinking. The males drink in the morning and evening only, but the 

 females, in hot weather, at least, drink also at midday. While putting up the 

 telegraph about sixty miles north of Shiraz, in 1864, I came suddenly upon a herd 

 of twenty or more does and kids, drinking by the roadside, a couple of hundred 

 yards from the foot of the hills. Except when alarmed, bucks and does seem to 

 keep apart." 



In Sind and Baluchistan these goats inhabit barren rocky hills, but in parts of 

 Asia Minor they are found on forest-clad uplands. In such localities, according to 

 Mr. E. N. Buxton, they may often be found within hearing of the drovers on the 

 roads, or even of the railways ; but this confidence is accompanied by exceeding 

 watchfulness. The number in a flock in these districts is generally from four to ten, 

 and at the time of Mr. Buxton's observations bucks and does were found together. 

 Sentinels are almost always posted to warn the flock, these being relieved at short 

 intervals ; and it appears that this sentry-duty is undertaken according to seniority, 

 the youngest animals commencing first, and the oldest buck taking his turn last. 

 In Asia Minor pasang are hunted both by driving and by stalking ; but they are so 

 cunning that the former method is not generally very successful. The Cabulis 

 hunt them on the lower grounds of Afghanistan with greyhounds. 



In the Caucasus the kids are born in May, but Mr. Blanford believes that in 

 Sind they are produced somewhat earlier. There may be either one or two, and, 

 it is said, occasionally three at a birth. 



The bezoar-stone, so highly esteemed in Persia as an antidote to poison and a 

 remedy for several diseases, is a concretion found in the stomach of the pasang, 

 from whence it derives its old European name of Pazen, or Pasen. 



In the island of Giura, near Euboea, there occurs a wild goat 

 GiuraGoat. . . , 



which has been regarded as a distinct species, under the name or 



C. dorcas. There is, however, little doubt but that it is the descendant of tamed 

 goats which have run wild, or of such animals crossed with the pasang. 



DOMESTIC GOATS (Capra hircus). 



It has been already mentioned that the various breeds of domesticated goat 

 have been mainly if not exclusively derived from the Persian wild goat, and they 

 may accordingly be most conveniently considered in this place. In saying that 

 domestic goats are mainly derived from that species, it should, however, be men- 



VOL. II. 1 6 



