198 



THE SHEEP AND GOATS 



The Tibetan Argali is a little 



smaller in size, and has slightly 

 smaller horns. The rams have also 

 a large white ruff on the thri_i.it. 

 These sheep descend in winter to the 

 lower valleys of the Tibetan plateau, 

 returning to the higher ground in 

 spring. The lambs are born in May 

 or June. 



L ITT LK I) A LIC'S SHEEP is a 

 smaller animal, found on the Sair 

 Mountains in the Great Altai, on the 

 northwestern border of Mongolia. It 

 is darker in colour than the argali or 

 Marco Polo's sheep, ami has dark 

 under-parts. 



Writing of the argali of Southern 

 Siberia, the naturalist Brehm says 

 that when the Tartars want mutton 

 an argali hunt is organised. The 

 Tartar hunters advance on their horses 

 at intervals of 200 or 300 yards, and 

 when the sheep are started generally 



manage, by riding, shooting, coursing them with dogs, and shouting, to bewilder, shoot, or 

 capture several. • 



On the high plateau of the Pamirs and the adjacent districts MARCO POLO'S SllEEP is 

 found. The rams are only slightly less in size than the Siberian argali ; the hair is longer than 

 in that species, and the horns are thinner and more slender and extend farther in an outward 

 direction. An adult ram may weigh 300 lbs. The first description of this sheep was given 

 by the old traveller whose name it now bears. He said that on the Pamir plateau wild 



d t £ 



% 



,/■ 



BARBARY SHEEP 

 These fine wild sheep are found in the Atlas and Aures Mountains oj North Africa 



animals are met with in large numbers, 

 particularly a sheep of great size, 



having horns three, fo 



and 



HARBARV S 1 1 1 : 1 . P 



This shows a fine ram, with a mane reaching almost to its hoof' 



six palms in length. 



Tur. ( )ORIAL. 



The vast range of the Himalaya 

 affords feeding-ground to other 

 species of wild sheep and wild gnat, 

 so different in the shape of the horns 

 that the variations of the ovine race 

 under domestication need not be 

 matter for wonder when so much 

 variety is seen in nature. 



The Oorial, or Sua. is found 

 from North-west India to Persia. 

 The horns make a half-curve back- 

 wards, and are flattened. The coat is 

 of reddish-brown colour, with white 

 on the belly, legs, and throat. This 

 species is the only wild sheep found 

 in India proper. 



