of the Old World. 239 



that I have seen won. So now to describe the 

 Neilgherry ibex, which is, I believe, of a species 

 peculiar to the range, differing in many respects from 

 those found on the Himalayas or the Caucasus. In 

 shape they somewhat resemble the common Indian 

 goat, but the body is much shorter in comparison 

 with the height. The largest I ever saw which 



was killed by B on the precipitous heights of 



the Koondas, overlooking the low country mea- 

 sured 6 feet 8 inches in length from the point of the 

 nose to the end of the tail, 50 inches in height at 

 the shoulder, and weighed, I should think, over 

 200 pounds, as it was in first-rate condition, the 

 rutting season not having commenced. The horns 

 are dark olive with black points, about 10 inches in 

 length, ringed, and 4i inches in circumference at 

 the base, gradually diverging until the points become 

 nearly 6 inches apart. These ibex are uniformly of 

 a light ash, deepening to dark brown on the hind- 

 quarters and forepart of the legs, with an almost 

 black stripe running along the ridge of the back. 

 The head is fawn-colour, part of the face being of a 

 rich brown, and the muzzle nearly black. The back 

 is furnished with a shaggy, stiff, upright mane, run- 

 ning along the neck and shoulders, which gradually 

 grows shorter on the hind quarters. The smell of 

 this animal is particularly rank and offensive, and 

 the flesh is scarcely eatable at any time, being so 



