The wild goats often bear a very close resemblance to certain species of wild sheep; and the two are not to be distinguished from each other, by the goats being covered with hair and the sheep with wool--as is generally the case with tame breeds.

On the contrary, both sheep and goats in a wild state have _hairy_ coats--the sheep as much as the goats; and in many instances the hair of both is quite as short as that of antelopes or deer.

Even where there are almost no external marks to distinguish wild goats from certain kinds of wild sheep, there are found _moral_ characteristics which serve as guides to the genus.

The goat is bolder, and of a fiercer nature; and its other habits, even in the wild state, differ essentially from those of the wild sheep.
"The ibex which we see above us," continued Karl, looking up to the quadruped upon the cliff, "is neither more nor less than a wild goat.
It is not the only species of wild goat inhabiting the Himalayas; for there is the `tahir,' a stronger and larger animal than it; and it is believed that when these great mountains have been thoroughly _ransacked_ [Karl here smiled at the very unscientific word he had made use of], there will turn up one or two additional species.
"It is not the only species of ibex neither," continued he, "for there is one found in the European Alps, known by the name of `steinboc;' another, in the Pyrenees, called the `tur;' a third, in the Caucasus, the `zac;' and one or two others in the mountains of Africa.
"With regard to the animal now before, or rather above us," continued Karl, "it differs very little from others of the same family; and as both its appearance and habits have been very ably described by a noted sportsman, who was also an accomplished naturalist, I cannot do better than quote his description: since it gives almost every detail that is yet authentically known of the Himalayan ibex.
"`The male,' writes this gentleman author, `is about the size of the _tahir_ [here he speaks of the other well-known species of Himalayan wild goat, and which is itself much larger than any of the domesticated kinds].

Except just after changing their coats, when they are of a greyish hue, the general colour of the ibex is a dirty yellowish brown.
I have, however, killed the younger animals, both male and female, with their coats as red as that of a deer in his red coat; but never saw an old male of that colour, for the reason, I imagine, that he lives much higher, and sheds his hair much later in the season.