THE MARKHOR 
( CAPRA FALCONERI) 
r HIS magnificent wild goat is found in the Kajnag and Pir Panjal 
Ranges of Kashmir , also in Astor, Chilas, the Gilgit region, 
Chitral and Afghanistan. The straight -horned variety inhabits 
the Suleiman Range and neighbouring regions on the North- 
West Frontier of India. 
A good markhor head is certainly one of the finest trophies 
obtainable by the hunter in the Himalayas. It is interesting to notice that 
the horns of wild goats always twist outwards, if they twist at all, while 
with the tame species the reverse is the case. 
Opinions differ as to whether the Kajnag or Astor type of head is the 
more beautiful, and I have never been able to decide which I like the better; 
but I am inclined to think that the finest of many I have examined is one 
which now hangs in the hall of the Senior United Service Club in London, 
and which I believe was killed a few years back by Major Knox in the 
Kajnag. 
The record head killed by an English sportsman was secured by Captain 
Barstow near Gilgit, and measures 60f inches. This was a wonderful 
instance of a beginner’s luck, as I believe it was the first markhor ever 
shot by this sportsman, and men who have been quartered in Gilgit for 
years and have been constantly on the look-out have never seen one nearly 
as big. Still, this head is hardly as fine a trophy as some that measure 
several inches less, as the horns do not match each other well in curve. 
The wide variety with the bold curve is not met with in the Kajnag, 
though in Astor and Chilas horns sometimes approximate to the Kajnag 
type. 
The markhor is a difficult animal to hunt; he delights in bad ground, 
and when opportunity offers takes refuge in the scrub. His habits are not 
so dependable as those of the ibex. Often, when a stalk looks easy and a shot 
certain, he will change his ground for no apparent reason; and after a 
long approach you will find he has transferred himself to the side of the 
nullah from which you originally spotted him, it then being too late that 
day to make another attempt. 
This wild goat lives at a lower altitude than the ibex, and in spite of his 
long coat seems to suffer no inconvenience from the heat of summer. 
Ill 
