226 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



The breeding season varies in different localities, for whereas 

 June sees the same in full swing in one district, it is not until 

 September that it takes place in another. One or two lambs are 

 produced, and not only will this species mix and feed with domestic 

 Sheep, but it will also interbreed with them. Briefly, the Urial may 

 be written of as a most interesting species because of its wide range, 

 great variety, remarkable adaptability to different climates, active dis- 

 position, and the ease with which its traverses over rocky situations. 

 The long legs are specially well displayed in Blanford's Sheep 

 (Fig. 178), this being a further characteristic worthy of note. 



BARBARY SHEEP.— The next species on our list, the Barbary 

 Sheep (Fig. 179), is exceedingly interesting if for no other reason 

 because it is the sole representative of the group to which it belongs 

 which is found in Africa. It is also known as the Maned Sheep, 

 presumably on account of the lengthy hair situate on the throat, 

 chest and fore-limbs. The thickly-haired tail is also of note. 



It stands about three feet high, and in colour is almost pale 

 rufous-yellow over the whole body. The ewe has shorter hair on the 

 fore-quarters, but the horns of both sexes are almost the same size 

 as Fig. 179 displays. These horns attain a length of about two feet, 

 and although those possessed by the lambs are of a wrinkled descrip- 

 tion, those of the adult animals are almost smooth. 



Unlike the Urial last under review, the Barbary Sheep is not 

 found in herds, being located either as a solitary animal, or at most 

 two or three together. It loves to keep within the range of the 

 desert, being found sparingly in regions of a precipitous character 

 such as "the arid southern slopes of the Atlas range, from the 

 Atlantic to Tunis." It presents an instance of protective coloration, 

 as eye-witnesses inform us that its colour is harmonious with the 

 limestone rocks which are found in mountainous districts. An 

 instance of this protective coloration is given by Mr. E. N. 

 Buxton, who says that when the Arabs frequent the haunts of this 

 Sheep, the latter, finding escape difficult, resort to the habit of 

 hiding their bodies successfully, and are evidently conscious of the 

 protection which is afforded them by the environment. He states 

 that on one occasion he was seated on a knoll which commanded a 

 view of a small shallow hollow. Very little cover was available in 

 which even so small an animal as a Rat could contrive to hide its 

 body, but on rising from the position he occupied he found that a 

 female Barbary Sheep and two lambs had been lying within a short 



