THE THAR GOAT. 
Capra jemlaica. 
Plate XXV. 
The Thar, or Tahir, Capra jemlaica, of Col. Hamilton Smith, is one of the most striking ruminants found 
in the Himalayas, for their unique specimen of which the Society is indebted to the exertions of Captain 
Townley Parker, late of the 53rd Regiment. The present drawing was made while the animal, which 
is still living at the Gardens, was in his summer dress, soon after his arrival in 1852; but, with advanced 
age, the shaggy mane, always greater in winter, has gradually developed into proportions as magnificent 
as that of a Lion’s. The pale marks on the back of the legs have become bright and clearly defined, 
while the general colour of the body-hair has become deep and intense dun. 
Of the habits of the Tahir in a state of nature, the following account is given by Colonel Markham, 
in his work entitled “Shooting in the Himalayas.” 
“The general haunts of the Tahir are the rocky faces and grassy slopes of hills which are almost 
free from forest, or with but occasional patches; though many inhabit the forest itself, where the ground 
is steep and rugged and interspersed with ledges of rock and abrupt projections. When the lulls attain 
an elevation of more than 8,000 feet on the southern and eastern slopes, the forest consists principally 
of oak; the ground is dry and often rocky, the trees in many parts thinly scattered, and the under¬ 
herbage is much of the same grassy character as the pasturage of the hills which are entirely free from 
forest. On the opposite slopes, the forest is of a much denser description; towering above the oaks are 
immense black pine-trees, and large patches entirely of chestnut, with box, yew, and many other smaller 
trees intermingled: the ground is damp, and the under-herbage long rank weeds, which grow higher than 
a man’s body. It is only the former description of forest land that the Tahirs regularly inhabit; they 
are seldom seen on the latter.” 
Dr. A. Leith Adams, in his remarks on the habits and haunts of Indian Mammalia, published in the 
Zoological Society’s “Proceedings” for 1858, tells us that the Thar is common on the Pir Pinjal ranges of 
Cashmere, and still more so on the mountains near the banks of the Chenab, at Kliistewar. He states that 
the female has smaller horns, and is without the mane. 
Besides the Tahir the Society’s collection embraces two other fine species of wild goats, namely, the 
Markhoor of the Punjab (Capra falconeri), and the Caucasian Wild Goat (C. caucasia), which inhabits the 
Caucasus, and neighbouring mountain-ranges of Western Asia. 
