MAMMALIA— SHEEP. 375 



in summer, like the deer, becomes somewhat wavy, a little curled, and 

 rough, consisting of a kind of wool intermixed with hair, and its roots con- 

 cealed by a fine woolly down. About the neck and shoulders, as well as 

 under the throat, the hair is considerably longer than elsewhere. The 

 female is much less than the male, and her horns neither so much curved 

 nor so large as those of the ram. 



From spring to autumn the argalis feed in the little valleys among the 

 upper regions of the mountains, on the young shoots of the Alpine plants, 

 and are said to grow very fat. As winter approaches, they descend lower, 

 and eat grass and other vegetables. They are fond of frequenting spots 

 of a saline nature, and will excavate the ground in such places in order to 

 get at the salt. 



In Siberia, the argali is chiefly found on the summits of the highest 

 mountains, exposed to the sun, and free from woods. They generally travel 

 in small flocks ; and seldom produce more than one, or sometimes two, at 

 a birth. The young lamb, when first born, is covered with a soft, gray, curl- 

 ing fleece, which gradually changes into hair towards the end of summer. 



These animals are very timid ; and when closely pursued, they turn and 

 double like a hare, and do not run in a progressive course. They ascend 

 rocky mountains with great agility, passing over the narrowest and most 

 dangerous places with perfect safety, like the wild goat. 



The males are said to fight frequently, and often precipitate each other 

 down the rocks in their contests. The chase of these creatures is extremely 

 dangerous and difficult, but is a most important object with some of the 

 Asiatics, as this sheep supplies theni with a great number of valuable and 

 necessary articles ; the skin being used for clothing, and the flesh as food. 

 Pallas informs us, that " the flesh of the lamb is excellent ; that of the old 

 animals is good ; but more particularly when roasted." 



The horns of the argali grow to a vast size, and some have been found 

 to measure in their convolutions above two ells in length, and to weigh 

 fifteen pounds each. Sometimes they are found broken off in such a man- 

 ner, that the small animals of the forest creep into the cavity for shelter. 



THE CORSICAN ARGALI,' 



Or Mouflon of Buffon, is of a much darker color than the Asiatic. It is so 

 extremely wild, as to be seldom taken alive. However, it is shot by the 

 hunters, who lie in ambush for it among the recesses in the mountains. 

 Like many other animals, the young ones, which are often taken when the 

 parent has been destroyed, are very easily tamed The various kinds of 

 domestic sheep are all supposed to have sprung originally from the argali. 



1 Oris musimon, Pall. 



