Sha or Urial 171 



a. AsToR Race — Ovis vignei typica 



Characters. — Size relatively large, the height at the shoulder reaching 

 to 36 inches. Horns of male generally thick and forming a wide circle, 

 with the tips more or less divergent ; the front angles more or less rounded 

 off, apparently never forming distinct beads, and the transverse ridges on 

 the front surface never very coarse. RufF on throat and chest apparently 

 less developed than in the next race, and the summer pelage less distinctly 

 red. 



Specimens of the Astor and Ladak sha of different ages, and showing the 

 pelage of the two seasons, are much required in English collections. There 

 has been considerable discussion as to whether the horns can in all cases be 

 distinguished from those of the Punjab race, and in some instances this is 

 probably impossible. Nevertheless, I have not observed horns of this race 

 bearing the distinct beads so frequently seen in those of the following one. 

 It must be borne in mind that some of the skulls in the British Museum 

 labelled Northern India may perfectly well have come from Ladak ; and 

 this may have been the cause of some confusion. Mr. W. L. Sclater 

 states that the present race is redder than the Punjab form, but this I 

 believe to be a mistake, specimens of the latter in the British Museum from 

 Afghanistan and Peshawur being almost foxy-red in colour. 



Distribution. — Typically from Astor, where it is known as the urin, but 

 ranging into Zanskar, Ladak, and other parts of Tibet, where it is termed 

 sha, the male having the special designation of shapo and the female of 

 shamo. Eastwards the range extends through Gilgit to the borders of 

 Afghanistan, where the typical sha probably intergrades with the true 

 urial. 



