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IV. On the Purik Sheep of Ladaku ; and some other Animals, principally 

 of the Sheep and Goat kind : with general Observations on the Country of 

 Ladakh, <§t. By William Moorcroft, Esq., in a Letter to John 

 Fleming, Esq. M. R. A. S , dated Lek, Capital ofSarrak, April 25, 1 822. 

 Commtmicated by Mr. Fleming. 



Read June 21, 1823. 



In Calcutta, you desired that I would procure, and send to you, some 

 Sheep of the Isle of Ormus, should it be in my power ; which, however, it 

 has not been. This circumstance impressed me with an idea of your con- 

 ceiving the introduction of that animal into Great Britain, likely to prove 

 beneficial to her agricultural and manufacturing concerns; and, by a natural 

 inference, leads to a belief, that a communication respecting the domestic 

 animals of a country, new to Europeans, may not be wholly without 

 interest. 



A cursory view of the striking difference in the tails of Asiatic Sheep 

 suggests the notion, that this might furnish a character, distinguishing the 

 races of this animal more correctly, than those which have been set up for 

 this purpose ; and Nature has adopted varieties in the proportion of this 

 part, of which some both surprise and perplex the mind, in endeavouring 

 to assign the cause of the difference. But this variation in the sheep is not 

 more extraordinary than that existing in the Mouse genus, some varieties 

 of which are here furnished with tails of a length, which would seem pre- 

 posterous and inconvenient ; whilst others are wholly destitute of this ap- 

 pendage. 



The novelties, wliich have already met my view in Natural History, are 

 so great, as to invite the introduction of details that would swell a letter to 

 a volume, and divert me from its practical objects. A breed of sheep of 

 Ladakh, (which ought, perhaps, to have precedence in mention,) when at 

 full growth, has scarcely acquired the size of a South Down lamb, of five 

 or six months : yet, in the fineness and weight of its fleece,* and in the 



* A sample of the wool was communicated by Mr. Moorcroft in the letter to Mr. Flem- 

 iKG, who has presented it to the Royal Asiatic Society, in whose Museum it is deposited. It is 

 of a white colour. Secrttary. 



Vol. I. H 



