154 



THE HIMALAYAN IBEX. 



This watercourse cut a deep channel for itself through the gravel of the slopes and soft 

 soil of the plateau, and joined the main stream about a mile above where we left it. On the 

 far side of the watercourse were some gentle grassy slopes from which the snow had partially 

 melted, and beyond them again a semicircle of snow-clad hills and glaciers of considerable 

 size enclosed the head of the valley. 



In the basin thus formed the main stream took its rise. The scene was wild in the 

 extreme, the whole of the valley being deeply covered with snow except the slopes before us ; 

 and it was evident that the Ibex had no other grazing grounds, and must therefore necessarily 

 descend during the course of the day. It was impossible to approach them where they were 

 first seen, and there was nothing to be done but to exercise patience, and be in readiness 

 to take advantage of any move on their part which would afford a chance of a successful 

 stalk. 



For a long time they appeared to be unwilling to leave their elevated position ; from 

 time to time one or more would lie down while the remainder continued to crop the scanty 

 herbage, and after a brief rest would rejoin their companions. At last there was a general 

 move downwards, and the herd gradually worked their way along the nearer bank of the ravine 

 through which the stream flowed, until they were little above our level. The old males first 

 observed had, in the meantime, been joined by a number of smaller ones, and there were 

 now about thirty Ibex of all sizes, and of both sexes, in sight. We were in hopes that they 

 would have come down to the stony slopes, but it soon became apparent that they were 

 making for the more tempting grassy slopes at the other side of the ravine. After the usual 

 amount of hesitation, without which Ibex never seem to make up their minds to any com- 

 bined movement, one after another crossed the snow, which nearly filled the ravine, at the 

 point where they reached its margin, and commenced to feed greedily on the open spaces 

 beyond. As they filed across we had a clear view of each against the white background, 

 and could now make out that there were several good heads, and that one old patriarch 

 carried a really fine pair of much curved horns. While the main body of the herd continued 

 to feed in company, advancing slowly in an irregular line across a nearly level flat, two or 

 three of the old males, including the largest one, held themselves aloof from the others, and 

 after cropping a few mouthfuls lay down on the brink of the ravine. 



Suddenly the main herd, for no ostensible reason, left off grazing and galloped back at 

 full speed to the ravine, into which they disappeared ; and the swell of the ground prevented 

 me from seeing whether they crossed it at once or remained in it. Beyond turning their 

 heads to see what was going on, the old bucks took no notice of this movement of their juniors, 

 and it was evident that they had no cause for alarm. One by one, however, at uncertain 

 intervals, rose from his siesta, and followed the direction the herd had taken, the old patriarch 

 being the last but one to move, and drop quietly down the low cliff on whose margin he had 

 been lying. One only now remained in sight, a fair-sized buck with horns upwards of thirty 

 inches long ; but his erratic movements gave us a lot of trouble. Instead of following his 

 companions he continued to move down the hill, skirting the edge of the ravine, and apparently 

 looking out for an easy crossing, while he occasionally turned aside to nibble some parti- 



