Marco Polo's Sheep 



The enormous weight of their horns causes the old 

 rams when galloping to keep their heads nearly erect, 

 instead of stretched out ; and from their length the old 

 rams cannot touch the ground with any part of the head 

 except the muzzle. 



When running at top speed at high elevations, these 

 sheep frequently show signs of shortness of wind by 

 opening their mouths ; up-hill they never go at a great 

 pace, being compelled to halt from time to time to take 

 breath. As a rule, they avoid snow-fields, and display 

 great care in steering clear of drifts and snow-filled 

 gullies. After grazing during the early morning, they 

 spend most of the day in repose, feeding again about 

 three or four in the afternoon. This, however, is in 

 summer, and in the short winter day their midday 

 hours of repose are probably shortened. On the way 

 to and from their grazing -grounds the old rams 

 frequently butt at one another after the manner of 

 domesticated sheep, when the sound of their clashing 

 horns is audible at a great distance ; a low kind ot 

 grunt being uttered during these combats. When 

 danger threatens, these sheep stare at the intruder and 

 stamp with their fore-feet before taking to flight in 

 precisely the same manner as the domesticated breeds. 



THE TIBETAN ARGALI, OR HODGSON'S 

 SHEEP 



{Ovis amnion hodgsoni) 



Native Names. — Nyan (male), Nyanmo (female), 

 Ladaki ; Nyang^ Nyand, and Hyan^ Tibetan 



(Plate iii, figs. 2, 2a) 



Although often regarded as a species by itself, the 

 nyan of Ladak comes so close to the typical Ovis ammon 

 of the Altai, that it is best classed as a local race of the 



95 



