GAME AXIMALS OF KASHMIR. 
603 
brought to Boonji, where many people must have seen it. Another single horn 
of 63 inches has been recorded. 
Having spotted a fine buck, the only thing to do is to follow it day after 
day and give up all idea of shooting inferior animals, until the big head 
is brought to bag or all trace of the animal has been lost, — try patiently. 
Luck does not always hold good, and this was the case in a very unlucky trip 
during which a big Markhor was followed for sev^eral days. The continual change 
of wind was fatal, and eventually the beast vanished. Another fine Markhor had 
been found higher up the nullah where stalking was easier. The shot was 
taken from a cliff with the buck below, as it was browsing with head slightly 
downwards, the bullet went through a horn and the core and then smashed tho 
skull below the second horn. The undamaged horn measured 52 inches. 
There are the grandest views in the country above Dumoot, this valley is 
also the field naturalist’s paradise, for here rare birds breed, and numbers of 
rodents live. Now all the country is closed to the visitor. Elsewhere there are 
many places where field research can be carried out, but very few places 
where the big-horned Ibex and Markhor can be shot. 
The sketches which were made from photographs represent horns from Astor 
and the Kajnag, and are of about the same size, i.e., measurements. 
PiR Pan.tal or Kajnag Markhor [C. falcon‘ri cashmiriensis.) 
A pair of Homs from Kajnag. Length a little over 53". 
The horns of this variety are often very long and vary greatly in curvature. 
As a rule they do not girth as much as those from Gilgit and Baltistan. 
The Kajnag and Shamshibri are now under the careful supervision of the Game 
Preservation Department from whom copies of the rules in force can be obtained. 
The Kajnag which is adjacent to the Vale of Kashmir and close to the main 
road was overshot in the eighties. There are apparently very few good heads 
left. However, when Malangan in the Kajnag is re-opened for sport, the big 
bucks may again be found, 
