Sha or Urial 173 



from Peshawar in the British Museum the development of the two front 

 ridges of the horns is comparatively slight, as is likewise the case in two 

 older mounted heads from Afghanistan in the same collection. All that 

 can be said is that similar prominent beads on the front angles of the horns, 

 and similar bold transverse ridges on the surface between them, appear 

 unknown in Astor and Ladak specimens. The differences cannot be 

 explained by differences in age. The specimen figured in plate xiii. is a 

 very old male, but some young specimens show equally strong front angles 

 to the horns. On the other hand, the Peshawur specimen mentioned 

 above, in which the front angles are but slightly developed, is an immature 

 animal, while the heads in the British Museum from Afghanistan are those 

 of old individuals. Horns of the latter type are, as Mr. Blanford points 

 out, very difficult to distinguish from those of the Ladak sha ; and in some 

 cases it may be impossible to refer specimens to their proper race. 



It may be added that, in addition to the distinctive features indicated 

 above, very different physical conditions obtain in the typical habitats of 

 the two ; the Astor and Ladak animal dwelling at very high elevations, 

 where the winter temperature is of excessive severity, whereas the other 

 form occurs in the hot low ranges ot the Punjab, Sind, and neighbouring 

 districts. 



The sheep described under the name of Ov/'s arkal comes from the 

 Turkoman country, on the eastern precincts of the Caspian — that is to say, 

 from the neighbourhood of Khiva or Bokhara. Where the type skull 

 figured by Blasius is preserved, I have no means of knowing ; but the skull 

 and horns of a ram in the British Museum (No. 94, 5, 31, 2) from the 

 Turkoman country agrees with the figures given by Blasius, and doubtless 

 belongs to the same form. It is clearly referable to the present species, 

 and as it shows the strongly marked and beaded front angles and bold 

 transverse ridges found in many horns of the Punjab race, coupled with 

 the fact that it is the latter which inhabits Afghanistan and Persia, it 



