NO. 1990. MAMMALS FROM THE ALTAI MOUNTAINS— HOLLISTER. 527 



Heads of greater size may be liad if one is eager for extreme meas- 

 urements. Two sportsmen, besides our party, visited the range of 

 this sheep earlier in the season of 1912, and obtained large heads. 

 The horns of one of these heads, which I afterwards examined in the 

 establishment of Rowland Ward, London, measured over 60 inches 

 (1524 mm.) around the curve, and is, I was told, the largest sheep 

 head received at Ward's in several years. 



The following extract, taken from Lyman's manuscript journal of 

 his sheep hunt across the Mongohan border, begins with July 1, the 

 day he left our camp in Tchegan-Burgazi Pass. It is interesting, 

 not only as an account of this wonderful sheep, but as a description 

 of its local habitat and the methods of hunting. 



Having left the Black River [Tschomia Creek] and with it the last timber, we fol- 

 lowed up the main stream [headwaters of the Chuya] to a point where it forks, and con- 

 tinued up the left or east branch. At or near these forks I began to observe a good 

 number of sheep heads. It was difficult to guess their, age, for even on a live animal 

 the horns often have a cracked and weathered look. I remember but one head in this 

 district where the lower jaw was with the skull. At no very great distance from the 

 forks we turned up a smaller stream to the left and made camp ; 3h hours' march, which 

 at 2^ miles per hour would be about 8| miles. From this camp, which must be near 

 Demidoff's "Happy Valley," I hunted the afternoon of this day and the whole of the 

 next. The method of hunting is as follows: The guide, Yam-bai, the assistant guide, 

 Mattai, and I, all ride. The country being generally rolling and without sharp ridges 

 it is necessary to keep one's eyes fixed on slopes at a great distance , but it is not necessary 

 to dismount often. When something is sighted, then it is necessary to examine with 

 a good telescope, or when ridges occur one must go up on foot lest he should come 

 suddenly on game. It is extremely uncommon to sight game very close, and when 

 this does occur the country is so open that a successful stalk is almost impossible. The 

 result is that one rides nearly all the time, a method which seemed strange to me at 

 first, but which is the correct thing I am persuaded if one has a far-sighted hunter. 

 The whole matter rests with the keen sight of the hunter. If left to himself the average 

 good American sportsman would loose at least half his chances because he could not 

 see the game before the game saw him. 



The country on which sheep are found is of much the same character on both the 

 Russian and Mongolian side of the frontier. It is everywhere absolutely devoid of 

 trees and bushes and covered only with short grass. This grass gives place to shale 

 slopes from time to time, and often one side of the mountain will be washed and 

 weathered, leaving an expanse of broken rocks exposed. Near the tops of many of 

 the hills are often found rocky outcrops of fantastic shapes. The higher moim tains 

 which seem to mark the boundary are completely washed, free from grass, their sides 

 covered with rock slides, and extremely rugged. 



The sheep are generally found on the open grass-covered slopes, pretty well toward 

 the tops. When in such a position it is obvious that they are very difficult to approach. 

 It is first necessary to get into a position where one can get a good view with a tele- 

 scope ; field glasses are of but little use, the distances are too great. It is then generally 

 possible, by making a sufficient detour, to ride to the foot of the particular hill on 

 which the band of sheep were seen. Sometimes it is even possible to ride a good way 

 toward the desired position on the hill itself. The final stalk itself is always very 

 difficult because of lack of cover, except in those cases where the sheep are found 

 among rocks or near a rock outcrop. The result of the stalk is either a long shot, 300 

 yards or more, at animals at rest or undisturbed; or a short shot, 100 to 150 yards, at 



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