WILD SHEEP. 17 



ofEer so much per head to the native hunters, with the result that in 

 the last two years some dozens of good rams have been killed, out of 

 a district, that contains not more than about a hundred rams all told. 

 So far only two or three districts, all of very restricted area, have 

 been discovered containing these sheep. Under these circumstances 

 it is the duty of every European and American, who is fortunate 

 enough to visit these districts to hold himself in strict control, and to 

 be content with his two or three head. 



There are a good many different species of wild sheep, but this 

 paper will be confined to tiiose inhabiting Asia, particularly that part 

 of Asia adjoining China. 



Of the large type to which the North China sheep (Ovis fuhata) 

 belongs, there are five distinct species, ranging from the Pamirs to 

 Siberia. The most westerly species bears the well known name of 

 Ovis poli, and was first discovered by Marco Polo. This species is 

 characterized by the great length and wide spread of the horns in the 

 ram. The spiral is more drawn out than in any other species. It 

 inhabits the high Central Asian steppes known as the Pamirs, and 

 has probably been more hunted by Europeans than any of the other 

 species. 



Next to this comes Ovis hodgsoni, which inhabits Thibet, and 

 is characterized by the massiveness of its horns, together with the 

 extreme compression of the spiral. The horns grow abruptly back, 

 their ends often coming flush with the animal's nose, so that they 

 have to be kept worn down in order that their bearer may eat. On 

 this account long horns are the exception. 



A third, and perhaps the largest species is found in the Thian 

 Shan and Altai Mountains. This is known as Ovis littJedalei, named 

 after its discoverer. Very few of this species have been shot by 

 Eiu'opeans. 



The fourth species is Ovis ammon, with which 0. hodgsoni, and 

 0. juhata, are often confused. It is an inhabitant of Mongolia and 

 Siberia. 



Ovis juhata, the North China species was first discovered north 

 of Peking, and described by Peters in 1876. Since then it has pretty 

 well been lost sight of, till within the last ten years it was rediscovered 

 in North Shansi, by whom I do not know. The first specimens I saw 

 of it were brought down to Tientsin in 1906. One of these was an 

 enormous head, of which I have not seen the rival, and my regret is 

 that I did not' measure it. 



