'Military Report on S.-W. Persia, Vol. I. Bakhtiari Garmsir' [‎10r] (24/168)

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in that of Persian Mesopotamia as indicated by Blandford’s
zoological map.
As soon as the alluvial plain of ’Arabistan is quitted, and the
low hills near Shushtar, Jaru or Ramuz entered, the species typical
of the plain cease to occur, and are replaced by typical mountain
species. Ursus syriacus (the grey bear of Persia) is occasionally
found in the low hills of the district, and a female with two cubs
was shot in April 1909, near Gurgir, the cubs being then three weeks
old.
A fine specimen of leopard (felis pardus) was shot near Mama-
tain in 1907.
A fine male ibex (capra segragus) with four does was seen
on the gypsum hills south of the Karun in April 1908 by the
writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. , at a height of 2,500 feet. All these are typical mountain
species, and their existence in the district tends to show that it
belongs zoologically to the Zagros region.
Other animals of special interest occurring in the district
are the porcupine, the chinkara (gazella bennetti, near the Arabistan
plain only), the urial (oris cycleceros), and the wild hog (in the plains
only). The latter is shot “ for sport,” but Iliats extract
some sort of drug from its intestines, which they use as medicine.
Mr. Woosnam of the British Museum obtained a lynx at Shush in
1905 and a badger at Ramuz, and a fine fox, probably vulpes
Persicus, is frequently shot in the district. The lion, until
recently was known to exist in the swamps of the river Diz, but
it is doubtful if any now remain. It has not been met with,
as far as is known, in this district, since Layard’s time, when it
was found at Ramuz and Kaleh Tub
Domestic ruminants are represented by the buffalo, which
is fairly common, though almost entirely in the hands of an
Iliat tribe known as bArab Gao MishT, who seem to have immi
grated not long ago from 'Arabistan, and to have attached them
selves to the Bakhtiari in the same way as they have allied them
selves to tribes in Pars. The fat-tailed sheep, small oxen, with
out a hump, and the (one humped) camel complete the list; the latter
animal will not be seen off the main caravan roads, however. ^ The
Persian horse is to be found in every Bakhtiari camp ; spiritless
and unsuited for fast work, it is nevertheless capable of covering
great distances at a fast walk; it is as sure footed as a mule, and
can exist on very little food. The mule is also common, and greatly
valued, whilst the donkey is to be seen everywhere, and in consider
able numbers.