GOATS. 247 



triangle being formed by the broad front surface, and the apex by the sharp 

 hinder edge. In the females the horns are small and placed wider apart at 

 the base, with a nearly oval section, and they are marked by parallel wrinkles. 



The Alpine ibex, steinbok, or bouquetin (C. ibex), is now 

 exterminated as a wild animal, although preserved by the Italian 

 Government in one or two valleys on the Piedmont side of Monte Rosa. It is 

 readily distinguished from the Himalayan ibex by the extremely small size of the 

 beard of the males, which is so short as to be scarcely noticeable. The animal is 

 also of smaller size, and at the present day, at least, its horns are far shorter, and 

 have less prominent knobs than those of the Himalayan species. Doubtless, how- 

 ever, the general size of the animal, as well as the length of its horns, have 

 been considerably reduced by the circumscribed area to which it is now confined. 

 Formerly, indeed, the ibex roamed over the Alps of Savoy, Switzerland, and the 

 Tyrol ; but it is unfortunate that there do not appear to be records of the length 

 to which the horns formerly attained. Horns of 26f and 31f inches in length have, 

 however, been recorded of late years. 



The pairing-season is in January, and the kids are born at the end of June or 

 beginning of July. The habits of this species are practically identical with those 

 of the Himalayan ibex. 



The Himalayan ibex (C. sibirica) differs from the Alpine species 

 Himalayan Ibex. -piiii 



by the presence of a profuse beard on the chin of the bucks, and a 



ridge of coarse dark hair along the back, as well as by its superior size and 



longer horns. The hair is coarse and brittle ; and in winter is underlain by a 



thick coat of wool, or pashm, which enables the animal to withstand the intense 



cold of its native mountains. The horns of the bucks have very large knobs, 



placed at fairly regular intervals ; and it may be observed here that these knobs 



do not indicate the annual stages of growth, which are marked by fine lines on 



the sides of the horns. In colour the Himalayan ibex is subject to a considerable 



amount of seasonal and local variation. Generally, however, in summer the colour 



is brown, only slightly paler above than below; but old males have some dirty 



white patches on the back. On the other hand, in winter the coat assumes a 



yellowish white hue, more or less tinged with brown or grey. The dark line on 



the back has been already mentioned, and in addition to this the beard, tail, and 



legs are also dark brown. In Baltistan very dark-coloured ibex are met with ; 



and specimens from Siberia and the Thian Shan range are distinguished by 



having the under surface of the hinder-part of the body and portions of the legs 



entirely white. 



A well-grown buck of the Himalayan ibex will stand about 40 inches at the 



shoulder ; while does are about a third smaller. Fine specimens of the horns 



measure from 40 to 45 inches along the curve ; but a pair have been recorded 



measuring upwards of 54 inches in length, with a girth of 11| inches just above 



the first knob ; and there are several of 51 inches, or a little over, in existence. 



Assuming the ibex of the Himalaya to be identical with the one 



inhabiting the Thian Shan range and Siberia, the species has a very 



extensive geographical range. Thus, it is found in all the mountain ranges of 



Central Asia, from the Himalaya to the Altai, and from the neighbourhood of 



