INDIAN SHOOTING 303 



07'is Vignei Ovis cycloceros 



Horn rather compressed Much compressed laterally, 

 laterally. 



Rounded posteriorly. Much compressed posteriorly. 



Curving outward and backward. Curving outward and inward. 



Points divergent. Points convergent. 



Cieneral colour, brownish grey. General colour, rufous brown, 



with blotch on flanks, and 

 lateral line blackish. 



Beard short, of stiffish brown Beard profuse, reaching to 

 hairs. 1 knees, black intermixed with 



white hairs. 



The two varieties are much of the same size, but are entirely 



different in colour and habits. The horns of the shapoo are 



generally more massive than those of Ovis cycloceros^ but the 



horns of both so vary in type and so closely resemble those 



of Ovis Gvielini from Asia Minor, that it is almost impossible, 



except for a highly trained scientific eye, to decide from this 



point alone to which of the three varieties a specimen belongs. 



^hapoo seem only to be found in the valley of the Indus, from 



few miles above Leh down to the junction of the Astor river, 



■ low far below that they extend the inhabitants of Chilas only 



:iow, and they are not famed for hospitality or for com- 



lunicating their knowledge. There appears to be a gap in 



^e continuity of the species about Shigar and Rondu, which 



jmrates the shapoo from the oorin. The writer has never 



.-ard of shapoo being obtained there, and it would be interest- 



\'j^ to know how far below Leh they are found. Shapoo seem 



' be very fond of wild thyme, which almost invariably grows 



lentifully on the ground they frequent. The venison is inferior 



> that of either Ovis Anwion or burrel. 



The ram shapoo is a very game-looking beast, and the 

 oms, standing well out from his head, show off to great 

 Ivantage ; but there is not an animal in the whole of the 

 iimalayas so vexatious to hunt. Markhor are bad enough in 



