ITS ENEMIES. 
times not so difficult to stalk as the sambur; with the wind 
favourable, they can usually be easily approached from above ; 
their conduct also when suddenly alarmed by the crack of a 
rifle is curious ; instead of a steady or direct flight as when 
they see or smell their enemy, they start about from rock 
to rock in a bewildered manner, at times squatting like 
hares, then springing up with a shrill whisde, hesitating 
for a moment which line to take, all the time affording 
opportunities for the sportsman to pick and choose his 
shots." 
Besides their enemy man, they have a very wily poacher 
to guard against, viz., the leopard ; wherever ibex are found, 
there assuredly will the marks of this their stealthy foe be 
detected. From the very strong scent emitted by the ibex, 
especially the males, the leopard has no difficulty in finding 
its prey, and I believe many fall victims to Its rapacious 
maw. 
'* To my mind the pursuit of the ibex is more exciting 
if possible, than that of the stag. The peril that attends the 
adventurer on the crags and fearful precipices, where the 
quarry resort, the grand and sublime scenery, the giddy 
heights and sombre depths, the danger and difficulty of the 
stalk, all combine in adding to the charms and attractions 
of the pursuit, and make a man feel proud of his success 
when he has brought to bag a fine old saddle back." 
The ibex generally go in herds from six to ten, but at 
times they are found in much greater numbers. On the 
20th April, 1854, when creeping over the crest of a hill in 
Michael's Valley, on the AnnamuUies, 1 found myself 
suddenly in the midst of at least sixty, and at another time 
I came upon a herd of twenty-seven. Both these herds 
