A FLOCK OF IBEX. 159 



of old males we found, gave us a proof. They 

 were at the head of the Asrung valley, and 

 we caught sight of them just as they were 

 coming down the hill to feed — a noble flock 

 of nearly a hundred old males. It was late 

 in the day, and we had a long way to return 

 to camp. Prudence whispered, "let them 

 alone till to-morrow," but excitement carried 

 the day, and we tried the stalk. Having 

 but little daylight remaining, we may have 

 hurried, and consequently approached them 

 with less caution than we should have done, 

 had we had time before us. However it 

 might be, we failed ; for long before we got 

 within range, some of them discovered us, 

 and the whole flock decamped without 

 giving us the chance of a shot. Not having 

 fired at, or otherwise disturbed them, more 

 than by approaching the flock, we were in 

 great hopes of finding them the next day ; 

 but that and several succeeding ones were 

 passed in a fruitless search. They had 

 entirely forsaken that range of hills. 



All readers of natural history are familiar 



