SIBERIAN ARGALI 



383 



Skull and Horns of Male Siberian Argali. 

 From a specimen shot by Mr. St. George Littledale in the Altai. 



SIBERIAN ARGALI (Ovis ammon). 



Closely allied to Marco Polo's sheep, but distinguished by the 

 thicker and less expanded horns, which often have the outer front 

 angle much rounded off, and the wrinklings very fine. A more or less 

 distinct white patch on the rump, not extending on to the thigh, which 

 is dark-coloured like the back ; no ruff on the throat, even in the long 

 winter coat. In summer the coat of old males, which is very short, 

 tends to become more or less light-coloured all over. Height at shoulder 

 from about 45 inches to 4 feet ; weight from about 250 to 350 Ibs. 



As in the Tibetan race, considerable individual variation may be 

 noticed in the horns, some having the outer front angle much more 

 developed than usual ; it does not appear that these differences can be 

 accounted for by age. 

 Distribution. In former times apparently extending from the Baikal 



Mountains in the south of Eastern Siberia through Northern 



Mongolia to the Altai ; now chiefly restricted to the two latter 



localities. 



