582 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



(1913c, vol. 1, p. 101) as "the Saiar, Sair, or Jair Mountains of Zungaria." 

 Nasonov (1923, p. 92) evidently considers the Jair Mountains (about 

 lat. 46 N., long. 84 E.) the true type locality ; he states that the more 

 northerly Sair or Saur Mountains are inhabited by O. a. collium.) 

 FIGS.: Lydekker, 1898c, p. 186, fig. 36, and 1902, pi. 7, fig. 2; Nasonov, 1923, 

 pi. 15, fig. 2. 



Up-to-date information on the status of this sheep seems to be 

 lacking. 



"Considerably smaller than hodgsoni, but with relatively massive 

 horns, which form rather more than a complete circle, and measure 

 (in the few specimens known) from 45^ to 47 inches in length .... 

 In summer the whole of the upper-parts, with the exception of the 

 white muzzle, as well as the upper portion of the legs, are reddish 

 fawn, there being no rump-patch, while most of the under-parts are 

 darker. Females with a dark dorsal streak." (Lydekker, 1913c, 

 vol. 1, p. 101.) Height at shoulder about 38 inches (Lydekker, 

 1898c,p. 185). 



Sushkin (1925, p. 149) gives the range as: " 'Saiar, Sair or Jair 

 Mountains'; also 'Semi-tau,' '86 E. long., 47 N. lat.'; 'and 84 E. 

 long., 46 N. lat.' Probably Saur (or eastern Tarbagatai) ; Semiz- 

 tau; and Jair." He adds in a footnote that this form is "doubtful 

 geographically and systematically." 



Nasonov (1923, p. 93) quotes Pevtzoff (1879) to the effect that 

 the highlands and high valleys of the mountains of Semis-tau and 

 Urkashar are the principal habitats of Wild Sheep in Tarbagatai. 



Miller (in Carruthers, 1913, pp. 548-552) writes as follows con- 

 cerning the present form in the Barlik-Maili Range, situated 

 between the Jair Mountains and the Dzungarian Ala-tau: 



The chance of procuring specimens of that rare sheep Ovis sairensis 

 lured us to this region, but our quest was tantalizing and unsuccessful. The 

 range of this sheep, which was first discovered by Mr. St. George Littledale 

 in the Sair, or Jair, Mountains at the eastern end of the Tarbagatai, and 

 south-east of Lake Zaisan, extends southwards through the Urkashar and 

 other small ranges as far as the Maili-Barlik group. This is also its eastern [?] 

 limit. How far its range extends westwards along the Tarbagatai seems to be 

 imperfectly known. . . . 



Large numbers of yurts scattered over the lower slopes [of the Barlik] 

 account, in no small degree, for the scarcity of game. I shall not weary the 

 reader with an account of the strenuous days spent in searching for those 

 scarce and elusive sheep; only one small band of ewes and three yearling 

 rams were sighted. [Later several more sheep were sighted on the Western 

 Maili plateau.] 



"The area it inhabits is composed of the Barlik and Maili ranges, 

 besides the Sair and probably the jumble of mountains to its 

 south, such as the Urkashar and Jair uplifts. . . . There is much 

 to be learnt with regard to this sheep. . . . Knowledge of its 

 range and habits are both needed." (Carruthers, 1915, p. 147.) 



