remarkable association, when it is remembered that the former species is
unknown in the typical habitat of the Pir-Panjal racjfbf the latter. In
Astor and Gilgit the young, which may be either one or two in number,
are born in May and June.
Markhor, probably of the Pir-Panjal race, have repeatedly bred in
captivity with the domestic goat.
Fig. .55.— Oblique view of Head of male-Astor Markhor. (From Dafrah’s 6'fort in the
Highlands o f Kashmir ?}
b* P ir - P a n ja l R a ce— C a p r a falconeri cashmiriensis
Characters.—Size large, the height reachingyto 40 or 41 inches at the
shoulder. Horns of males with the spiral less open than in the typical
race, and showing in fine examples from one to two complete turns. As
observed by Mr. Blanford, the horns o f this race pass into those of thé last
and the next by every conceivable gradation, probably on the confines of
their respective distributional areas.
The following are some of the largest dimensions of horns of this and
the preceding race recorded by Mr. Rowland Ward :—
Length along . Length in Basal Outer Curve. Straight Line. Circumference. Tip to Tip. Locality.
59 ? ? P i r - P a n j a l
5« i 4°2 IO s H G i l g i t
56 p ? p A s t o r
5 6 p
I 3j p „
55 p p p „
54i p f
54 p i o f *• 3 3 4 A s t o r
53i 4* i I ! i f 2 „
■ 53 p
' 92 ’’ 20 p
5Ï É 3 8 ! 9Ï 35a G i l g i t
394 - l i ¥ 334 A s t o r
35 9 I " Ï H G i l g i t
5i f 37i IO P i r - P a n j a l
54 ? I l f 49t A s t o r
. 5' 3 7 I Iv-‘;( 42 ■ ,, „
5° ■ 3^ i . 1 2 36 C h i l a s
49| A ; ;
p IO 39 K a jn a g
49 32 i I 0 i 43 G i l g i t
49 ? I I . 35 H a r am o s h
49 •? ? 42 A s t o r
48* ?
H i 45 ,,
48* ? ■4 S r ï f S I
p
Ht'® 1 1 ? P i r - P a n ja l
47b * i 36 39
Distribution.— The Pir-Panjal and Kajnag ranges on the south side of
the valley of Kashmir, unknown on the northern side of that valley, and
not extending farther east than the Chinab ; to the north-west in Hazara
and Gilgit. In not extending to the northward of the vale of Kashmir,
the distribution of this race isBimilar to that of the Himalayan tahr,
although it is more extended to the north-west in that it crosses the
Jhelam valley to include the Kajnag range.
Habits - -The Pir-Panjal markhor is on Jfc f the animals in imminent
danger of extermination in its typical habitat, unless the new forest laws
of the Kashmir Government are sufficientlyl||tringent to enable it to
I