595 
GAJIE ANDIALS OF KASmOR AKD ADJACENT HILL PROVINCES. 
BY 
Col, a E. WARD. 
Part III. 
{Continued from page 344 of this volume.) 
{With 1 plate and 4 text figures.) 
GOATS. 
No. 348. The Himalayan Ibex. {Capra sibirica.) 
Himalayan Ibex {Capra sibiric i) 
(From the Society’s collection. 45"). 
The “Kkeyl" of Kashmiris. 
The spring is the season for Ibex shooting, when they come down to the 
green grass from their winter quarters during the morning and evening hours. 
They may even stay in the valleys during the day, provided the country is un- 
disturbed, and there are no snow leopards on the prowl. In addition cliffs must 
be adjacent to the grazing grormds. An ibex seems to be only at ease when 
hung amongst the precipices from whence he can look down and watch the low 
ground whilst a “ nanny ” does sentry duty in the vicinity. 
In the spring the flocks of Ibex are fairly large, and all sizes are banded 
together, but in the summer the larger bucks wander off to the heights, 
leaving the females and kids on the lower ground. 
In the summer, say after June, shooting is difficult, many a stalk is spoilt by 
the mist which drives up from below, and lands the guimer in difficulties. 
Ibex come to grief in avalanches, for even in the winter they generally keep 
up at great elevations. In the Indus valley, Baltistan Ibex come low down 
in winter, for the cliffs on that river are at a low altitude. There is no other 
suitable ground at hand except perhaps in Dachin and the lower Ward wan, 
hence they have to remain high up. 
How do Ibex exist on the heights during the winter ? they must be 
endowed with the power of living on very little food. Places where Ibex have 
wintered can be found; one was between two almost parallel lines of cliffs on the 
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