pplied in other parts of the country to the stag, and
sometimes even the roe, is here only used to designate the _aegagrus_,
the fallow deer of this district being properly known as _jamoorcha_.
The old males of the _aegagrus_ inhabit during summer the higher
mountains, being often met with on the snow, while the females and
young frequent the lower and easier ridges; in winter, however, they
all seem to live pretty much together among the rocks, scattered
pines, and bushy ground, generally preferring elevations of from
2000 to 5000 feet. Herr Kotschy says they never descend below 4000
feet in Cilicia; but his observations were made in summer.

"Like all the ibex tribe, the _aegagrus_ is extremely shy and wary
at ordinary times, though, as in the case with many other animals,
they may be easily approached during the rutting season. I was told
that they were often brought within shot at that time by the hunter
secreting himself, and rolling a few small stones down the rocks.
When suddenly disturbed they utter a short angry snort, and make off
at a canter rather than a gallop. Though their agility among the rocks
is marvellous, they do not, according to Mr. Hutton ('Calcutta
Journ.' vii. p. 524), possess sufficient speed to enable them to
escape from the dogs which are employed to hunt them in the low lands
of Afghanistan. It is interesting to see how, when danger is dreaded,
the party is always led by the oldest male, who advances with great
caution, and carefully surveys the suspected ground before the
others are allowed to follow; their food consists principally of
mountain grasses, shoots of different small species of oak and cedar,
and various berries. The young are dropped in May, and are one or
two (Kotschy says sometimes three) in number. The horns appear very
early, as shown in a kid of the year procured in the beginning of
January."

It appears to be very much troubled with ticks, and an _oestrus_ or
bot which deposits its larvae in the frontal sinuses and cavities
of the horns.

_SUB-GENUS HEMITRAGUS_.

Some naturalists do not separate this from _Capra_, but the majority
do on the following characteristics, viz. that they possess a small
muffle, and one of the two species has four mammae. The horns are
trigonal, laterally compressed and knotted on the upper edge.

NO. 449. CAPRA _vel_ HEMITRAGUS JEMLAICUS.
_The Tahr_ (_Jerdon's No. 232_).

NATIVE NAMES.--_Tehr_, _Jehr_, near Simla; _Jharal_, in Nepa