1793 account of the argali, 87 



from the East Indies, they were probably of the 

 agagrus kfnd, as that animal frequents the moun- 

 tains of India and Persia. Since writing the above, 

 Pallas tells me, that Mr Pennant has publifiied a 

 later work on the zoology than the one I have, and 

 that he has pofsibly cleared up the subject there, al- 

 though he does not remember to have read the avti- 

 cle, nor did he the note I have commented on, in 

 the midst of his numerous and various labours in na- 

 tural history, and other literary vocations, recom- 

 mended to hitn by her imperial majesty. * 



Description of the ovis fera, or wildjheepy the ar- 

 gali of the Siberians. 



It is about the height of a small hart, but its make 

 is much more robust and nervous. 



Its form is lefs elegant than that of the deer, and 

 its legs and neck fhorter. 



The male is larger than the female, and every way 

 stouter. 



Its head resembles that of a ram, with long strag- 

 ling hairs about the mouth ; but no beaid. 



Its ears are rather smaller than those of a ram. 



The form of its horns will be best understood by the 

 inspection of the drawing sent ; they weigh in an adult 

 sometimes sixteen pounds. 



* Mr. Pennant in the last edition of his natural history of quadru- 

 peds, makes three several species, i. wild ftieep, (^argali, ophioii, mu- 

 limon.) 2. Bearded, which he formerly called Siberian goat. This 

 differs from the argali by its beard, and the great length of hair on 

 its breast. 3. Caucasan goat, the segagrus of Pallas. Thus he re- 

 stores the segagrus to the goat, and the other to the flieep genus. 



Edit. 



