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THE MARKI10R. 
Capra faleoneri or Capra megawros. Native names : Markhor (Snake- 
eater), Afghanistan, Punjab and Kashmir ; Rache, Ladak ; Sara (male), Bu~- 
kuhi (female), Balooch. 
Habitat. —The Pir Panjal ranges, south of Kashmir, Baltistan, Astor, Gilgit, 
Hazara, Afghanistan, the Suleiman range, Bannu District, and Ohehiltan, nea 
Quetta. 
Period, of gestation. —Uncertain ; one or two are produced at a birth in 
May and J une. 
" Description. —In old males a long and copious beard down to the breast; in 
young males and females only on the chin. No species vanes so much in horn 
formation as the Markhor. There are four well recognisable varieties .-(0 the 
Astor,- in which the massive horns form a very open spiral, never exceeding 
one and a half turns; (ii) the Pir Panjal m which the spiral is less open, the 
horns having from one to two turns; (in) the Cabul, in which the °™s are 
nearly straight, having a slight spiral; M the Suleiman, in J^li Hie 
are absolutely straight and conical, with two heels wound spirally round 
after the manner of a barley sugar stick, good horns having two or tlnee 
complete turns. 
