WILD SHEEP. 19 



The wild sheep of North China is of a dark fawn grey colour, with 

 a very pronounced white croup disc, and cream coloured legs. The 

 hair is thick and in places inclined to be woolly. There is a well 

 developed mane, while the hair on the front of the neck is long. In 

 very old rams the shoulders and back become flecked with white. 

 They are very deep in the chest, light in the quarters, with long 

 slender, though powerful legs. The tail is very short, being marked 

 above with dark brown, which is connected with the brown of the back. 

 The head is held erect, there being a tremendous development of tlie 

 neck muscles and vertebrae to support the enormous weight of horn. 



The country inhabited by 0. juhata consists of rugged mountain 

 ranges radiating from extensive grassy and rolling uplands. These 

 mountains average about 7,000 ft. in altitude, which is not veiy high 

 for sheep. They rise abruptly from the plain, which is not more than 

 2,500 ft. above sea level. This gives a rapid ascent of over 4,000 ft., 

 no mean climb if taken in a single day. 



The sheep scatter in small herds all over the ridges, retiring to 

 the uplands when pursued. In summer the old rams retire to the high 

 back ranges, though the ewes and young rams stay on in their usual 

 haunts. 



The rutting season is in October, the young being born in April 

 and May. When in combat over the ewes, two rams will back off 

 from each other, lower their heads and charge. The impact is terrific 

 as the two masses of horn, driven by several hundred pounds of bone 

 and muscle, crash into each other. The battered condition of many 

 horns testifies to the fierceness of the conflicts, which may be heard a 

 considerable! distance away. When one ram is beaten, he seeks safety 

 in flight, the victor following up his success by running behind and 

 butting the vanquished one in the rear, till he is well out of the way of 

 the herd, over which the fight has taken place. 



The rams are in best condition just before and during the rutting 

 season, when also they are most reckless and easily hunted. Sub- 

 sequently they leave the ewes, and go off together in twos and threes. 

 Very old rams usually become solitary, keeping aloof from their kind 

 the greater part of the year. When three rams are seen together it 

 may be noticed that the largest acts as leader. He is followed closely 

 by the smallest, while the second in size, being more independent 

 usually lags in thie rear. In a large herd of ewes under the guidance 

 of an old ram, an old ewe generally leads the way, while the ram 

 herds the rest, keeping them all in front of him. Only 



