OVIS CYCLOCEKOS. 295 



by Wolf, Zool. Sketches. O.Vignei, BLYTH (in part). Urid or Uridl, 

 H., in the Punjab. Koch, or Kuch, of the Sulimani range. 



THE OORIAL, OR PUNJAB WILD SHEEP. 



Descr. Male with the horns sub-triangular, much compressed laterally, 

 transversely sulcated. They touch at ihe base, curve backwards and down- 

 wards, then the tip is turned forwards, upwards and inwards towards 

 the orbit. The hair strong and wiry, not woolly. General colour 

 rufous-brown or rufous-fawn, the face livid, sides of the mouth, chin, 

 belly, legs below the knee, white ; a blotch on the flanks, the outside of 

 the limbs and a lateral line blackish ; a profuse black beard from the 

 throat to the breast, intermixed with some white hairs reaching to the 

 level of the knees. Tail short, white. Eye-pits large. The horns of 

 the male sometimes measure above 2| feet round the curve, and are 

 nearly 4 inches in diameter at the base. The male measures about 5 feet 

 in length, more or less, and stands nearly 3 feet high. 



The female is much smaller, of a more uniform and paler fawn-brown, 

 paler beneath, with the belly whitish ; no beard ; horns very short and 

 nearly straight, only 3 or 4 inches long. The group to which this 

 species and 0. Vignei belong, was formerly separated as a sub-genus^ 

 Caprovis, Hodgson, distinguished, among other points, by the large 

 beard and mane, and the goat-like character of the hair. 



This wild sheep was formerly confounded with an allied species, Ovis 

 Vignei of Blyth, found only in highly elevated districts. Living specimens 

 of the Punjab sheep having been presented to the London Zoological 

 Gardens, the distinctions were seen and pointed out by Sclater, who 

 restored the name Hutton had long'previously given it, but which I think 

 he evidently applied to both races. The Oorial is found over the whole Salt 

 range of the Punjab, on the Sulimani range across the Indus, the hills of 

 the Hazara, and those in the vicinity of Peshawur. In most of these 

 localities it occurs at a very low elevation, from 800 feet to 2,000 feet, 

 and rarely 3,000 feet, and it is therefore capable of enduring great heat, 

 and is fully entitled to be included in the strictly Indian Fauna. 



Small flocks of the Oorial may be seen not far from Jhelum. They 

 frequent the rocky and stony hills, and are wary and shy ; but from the 

 nature of the ground are not very difficult to stalk. The male has a loud 

 shrill whistle, which he sounds as an alarm, and their usual call is a sort of 

 bleat. They rut in September, and have generally twins. Seen at a little 



