WESTERN TUR 
(i CAPRA CAUCASICA) 
r HE Capra caucasica , also locally known as tur, inhabits the 
western half of the Caucasian range. There is much more of the 
true ibex about the animal than its eastern brother, the Capra 
cylindricornis; it is found on worse ground, and I have never 
seen one attempt to descend into the timber. 
Scientists have divided this wild goat into three races: on 
the extreme west of the range the Capra dinniki , then the Capra severtzowi , 
and, lastly, the Capra caucasica typica , to the east of Mount Elbruz. The 
ordinary sportsman will probably be unable to distinguish between these 
three, and will be fairly safe in calling his animal Capra caucasica. 
The horns of an ibex are easier to estimate than those of a sheep, and 
after some practice one ought to be able to guess their length within a 
couple of inches, with the aid of a good telescope, especially if seen in 
profile. 
It should be remembered that the horns which curve well round always 
tape better than those that stand up straight from the head. The hunter 
should always take with him the best telescope procurable, for, in addition 
to the pleasure of getting a good view of the animal in its natural state, 
he will be saved many a useless stalk after heads which turn out not worth 
shooting when approached. 
The horns of the Capra caucasica are somewhat thicker at the base 
than those of a Himalayan ibex of similar length, but the animal’s general 
appearance and habits are not unlike those of the Himalayan species. 
The best head we have recorded from the Caucasus is one of 40 § inches, 
secured by St George Littledale. 
As this animal lives on the open mountain or bare cliffs, and does not 
go down into the forest, he is easier to spy than the Capra cylindricornis; 
still, a certain amount of luck is always required to get him. If things 
go wrong, and something disturbs him, or the wind changes, it is better 
to abandon the stalk and trust to better fortune another day than to run 
the risk of frightening the tur altogether from the spot where you have 
located him. An ibex, if undisturbed, usually returns to the same place, 
or somewhere very near it, to feed, day after day; his habits are fairly 
regular, but to learn them one must be in a position to spy him in the 
47 
