FIRST INTRODUCTION TO THE IREX. II3 
view of the place was not very picturesquCf and very un- 
Indian; my first impression was that I should not like it, 
but this soon changed. Next day I was up and out soon 
after sunrise, found the ground covered with white hoar 
frost, and the air delightfully cool and invigorating, and I 
was much surprised to meet several rosy cheeked children. 
It was when on the Nielgherries that I first saw an 
ibex, and was introduced to certainly one of the most 
pleasant as well as most exciting sports of Southern India. 
I cannot do better than quote what Hawkeye says about 
this animal and its pursuit. "The Nielgherry wild goat 
[Hemiiragus kyiocriusy as styled by Jerdon, though I think 
mountain goat a more appropriate term, is a species of the 
genus Capra, distinct iv^e to Southern Indiaj the only other 
Jvind of goat approaching in likeness to it being the Tahr of 
the Himalayas {Hemiiragns-Jemiaiats), Our mountain goat is 
a sturdy, I may almost say, a massively formed animal, with 
short legs, and remarkably strong fetlocks, a heavy carcase, 
short and well ribbed up ; combining strength and agility, 
wonderful to behold ; their habits are gregarious, and the does 
are seldom met with separate from the Hock or herd, though 
males often are ; the latter are considerably larger than the 
females and as they grow old assume a peculiar distinctive 
appearance, the hair of the back becoming lighter, almost white 
in some instances, while that on the flank darkens, causing what 
is called a saddle to appear, and from that time they become 
known to shikaries as the Saddle back of the herd, an object 
of ambition in the eyes of the true sportsman." 
^ Capfa warryatOj Gray. The term wuryyato being composed of two 
tarn u I words, wurrai a precipice, and arf?? a goat, 
8 
