81 



breadth across of orbits posteriorly 7 inches, and total length of bony 

 palate 6^ inches. The dimensions of the largest pair of horns of 

 the Swiss Ibex examined by Mr. Blyth, and which were of the same 

 age as the preceding, are given as follows. Length 3| feet over the 

 arch, having a span of 2 feet from base to tip inside ; the points '2| 

 feet asunder, and basal circumference 10| inches ; number of promi- 

 nences above 20, several being comprised within the first 8 inches. 

 They diverge quite regularly, and somewhat spirally, more outward 

 to the tijj. 



" TheHimalayan Ibex," continues Mr. Blyth, " is the Skyn or Skeen, 

 Sakeen or Sikeen (as variously written) of diiferent parts of its range, 

 and is numerous, according to Mr. Vigne, in Little Thibet, where it is 

 designated Skyn. In Kashmir it bears the name of Kyi. Mr. Moor- 

 croft informs us that in Ladakh the male is termed Skyn. and the 

 female l' Danma* : he describes it to inhabit the most inaccessible 

 crags of the mountains ; and other authors notice its habits as en- 

 tirely resembling those of its Alpine congener f- In Kashmir, as I 

 am informed by Mr. Vigne, its poshm (or under-fleece of delicate 

 silky wool), which in all the true massive-horned Ibices is amazingly 

 copious in winter, is highly prized, ' that of one large Ibex being equal 

 to the produce of three Shawl Goats, besides being softer and finer. 

 I have some beautiful cloth,' continues that gentleman, ' made from 

 the poshm of the Ibex. The animal is of a sepia-browTi colour.' 

 It may be further noticed, that in the ' Journal of the Asiatic Society 

 of Bengal,' vol. v. p. 242, it is stated that Major Kennedy had a 

 pair of these animals, stuffed, at Suhatu, in Kunawar. A skull and 

 horns which I saw at Mr. Leadbeater's was received from Nepal, 

 where, however, the species does not yet appear to have been noticed 

 by Mr, Hodgson. Dr. Falconer has probably named it. 



" Himalaya Ibex. Capra Ibici Helvetico simillima, sed cornibus 

 magis prolongatis, semper minvis divergentibus, apicibus attenuati- 

 oribus et ad antrorsum abruptiori-curvatis, — sic ut in plurimis spe- 

 ciebus hujus generis, at vix in Caprd Ibice vera." 



* Travels, i. 311. 



f Vide ' Journal of a Trip through Kunawar,' published in the ' Journal 

 of the Asiatic Society of Bengal' for 1839, p. 928. 



