THE SOUTH INDIAN IBEX

摘要

Every youth who lands in India from Europe undergoes a period of blood-thirstiness. If his destination gives him access to those hills in Southern India where the ibex has not been brought to the verge of extermination, he is bound sooner or later tohave a day after them. And the more he has of the sport, the more he will want of it. Without in any way detracting from the merits of bison and elephant shooting, it may be said that the pursuit of ibex is in its own way unequalled. There is something in the air at high elevations which is particularly exhilarating, and the precipitous nature of the country adds the charm peculiar to mountaineering which is wanting in other sport. Even after the craving for blood has past away, the interest in the habits and peculiarities of the animal is sufficient to arouse pleasurable feelings. One may consier oneself quite an old hand at shikar before the fact that the ibex is only a wild goat, and not an ibex at all, is brought home to one. This information is generally passed on to all those whom it may or may not concern with all the force of newly acquired information. As a matter of fact, few really understand the exact position this wild goat holds in Natural History, and few care to know.