on the front pasterns, and the similarity between the colour of the long
narrow beard and the back are characters amply sufficient to distinguish
this species from all its kindred.
This splendid goat was originally described by Pallas from specimens
collected by Giildenstadt, near the head-waters of the rivers Terek and
Kuban, which rise in the Central Caucasus on the north side of the chain
between Elbruz and Dych-tau. The figured specimens comprise a female
(plate xviiA.) and the head of an adult male (plate xviiB. fig. 1). In
the male head the beard i||Jbng and narrow ; and the horns, which appear
to curve in a single plane, are boldly knotted on the front -surface of their
terminal half. As they are not those^fiif a very old animal, they are
separated by a considerable interval at their tips.
In the Proceedings^*)f the Zoological Society for 1886 Mr. Sclater
believed Capra cylindricornis to be inseparable from this, species, and described
it from specimens of the former. But in 1887 Herr Dinnik
described and figured characteristic horns from the Western Caucasus,
while others were figured by Dr. Buchner in the same year. None .of
these specimens belong, however, to very old animals,gp that the interval
between the tips of the horns is relatively large.
In the latter part of 1887 Dr. M. Menzbie-r Communicated a paper to
the Zoological Society in which he restricted Capra caucasica to the
Central Caucasus (the typical locality), and referred all the specimens from
the Western Caucasus (including those described by Messrs. Dinnik and
Buchner) to a new species, under the name Capra severttsowii Unfortunately
no figures accompanied this communication. It is: stated, however)
that the goat regarded as the true C. caucasica has horns- somewhat intermediate
between those of C. cylindricornis and the goat of the Westerti
Caucasus ; and that these horns always have the tips approximated, the
distance between them being only about 20 inches, The horns are further
stated to show eight or nine small ribs on the basal half of the front surface,
and about ten more conspicuous nodules in the terminal half. Furthermore,
the beard is described as being short and broad, like that of the
East Caucasian tur.
On the other hand, in the western form described as C. secuerizorwt the
horns, which bear more or less Conspicuous nodules on the front surface,
are stated to curve in one plane, and to be widely separated at the tips, the
distance between which is given at from 32 to 36 inches. The beard is
described as long and narrow. Certain differences in coffur and the form
of the incisor teeth are also mentioned ; but as I believe these to be entirely
due to season and age, attention will be restricted to the horns and beard.
The following specimens, from the Central and Western Caucasus have
come under my personal notice. Firstly, two young mounted males in the
British Museum from Mount Elbruz, showing the long winter pelage. In
the larger of these two the short horn|Kare knotted in front throughout
their length ; and the beard in both is, of the short, broad type, characteristic
of the East Caucasian tur. Secondly, an adult male in the summer
pelage obtained by Mr. St. George Littledale from the Western Caucasus,
and presented by him to the British Museum ; this specimen forming the
subject of plate xxi. In this specimen, which from its lljjality must be
referred to the so-called C. seyertzoyoi, the horns curve backwards in one
plane, are faintly ridged in front in the basal, and strongly knotted in the
terminal h a lf; the interval between the tips being 16 inches. The reddish
beard is long and narrow, and occupies only the middle of the chin.
The third specimen fs: the splendid skull and horns shown in fig. 47,
which is in the possession of Mr. Littledale, and was likewise obtained
from the Western Caucasus, so that this belongs also to C. severtzowi.
Now, whereas the length of these horns is just over 40 inches, the interval
between their tips is only 15^ inches, or less than that which Dr.
Menzbier gives as distinctive of C. cylindricornis! In form these horns are
precisely similar to those & the mounted specimen ; their approximation