528 Wild Goat of Afghanistan. 



force, that a man would infallibly be borne down by the 

 weight, and probably dashed to pieces. 



They are generally secured by entangling their horns 

 with ropes, and thus rendering them harmless. 



It is doubtless this habit of entering caves, that has given 

 rise to the native idea of their living in them. 



During the winter time, these animals possess beneath 

 their hairy covering a soft wool, of exquisite quality, and of a 

 pale grey or nearly white colour ; the hair at this season too 

 is much longer than in summer, but at no period can it be 

 called long. As the summer approaches, the soft under- 

 coating of wool gradually detaches itself from the skin, as in 

 the domestic goats and camel, and is slowly thrown off 

 together with the winter coat, which yields to a yellower 

 brown hair, which forms the summer clothing ; this latter is 

 likewise much shorter than that which it displaces. 



In most immature specimens, the dark collar is wanting, 

 and the dorsal stripe often obscurely perceptible, and indeed 

 sometimes altogether imperceptible. These seem to be 

 more especially characteristic of mature or aged individuals, 

 though they are not solely confined to such, even young ones 

 occasionally exhibiting them. In none but mature animals 

 are they constant. There is also much difference in the 

 size and direction of the horns, some being large, and the 

 tips gradually turning outwards, others again turning in- 

 wards, and some being wholly directed backwards. When 

 taken young, they are readily tamed, and breed willingly with 

 the domestic species. 



It has been conjecturd that the iEgagrus might probably 

 be found to inhabit the European Alps, and an animal has 

 been figured and described in the Naturalist's Library under 

 this name, on the authority of F. Cuvier, which is said to 

 have been captured in those mountains. 



It would however appear, independent of the fact " that 

 there is no proof of the existence of the true ^Egagrus in 



