18 WILD SHEEP. 



This sheep seems to have been driven out of the district north 

 of Peking, and at present is only definitely known to inhabit North 

 Shansi, 



It is a really magnificent animal, and it is possible that it may yet 

 be found to be the largest species of all. 



Up to the present the greatest measurements obtained are : — length 

 of hoi'n 52 inches ; basal circumference of horn 19^ inches ; height at 

 shoulder 45f inches. This compares favourably with the records of 

 the other four species, which are as follow: — 

 Ovis poll : 



Record length of horn 75 inches. 



Record basal circumference of horn 16f inches. 



Record height at shoulder 46 inches. 



0. littledalei : 



Record length of horn 62^ inches. 

 Record basal circumference I9f inches. 

 Record height at shoulder, not given. 



0. hodgsoni: 



Record length of horn 75 inches. 



Record basal circumference 18f inches. 



Approximate height at shoulder 42 inches to 48 inches. 



0. amnion : 



Record length of horn 62 inches. 



Record basal circumference 19 inches. 



Approximate height at shoulder 42 inches to 48 inches. 



It will be seen from these measurements that the horns of 

 ■0. jubata, have a greater basal circumference in proportion to their 

 length than any of the other species. It must be remembered that 

 ag only a comparatively few of the North China and Thdan Shan sheep 

 have been measured, it is highly probable that much larger heads 

 exist. As it is these two species hold the records for basal circimi- 

 ference of horns. 



The American Bighorn (Ovis canadensis) and the Kamschatkan 

 wild scheep {Ovis nivicola) are considerably smaller than these Central 

 Asian giants. Their records are respectively: — length of horn 50.^ 

 inches, basal circumference 18| inches, and length of horn 39^ inches, 

 basal circumference 14f inches. In the case of the American Bighorn, 

 a great number of heads have been secured and measured, so that the 

 record is probably well established and hard to beat. A full grown 

 ram averages not more than 38 inches at the shoulder. 



