202 ITS HABITS, BEAUTY, 



Etsina, but we could not discover if this were pre- 

 cisely the same breed. My impression, however, is 

 that it is the same, and that the Tibetan species is 

 also a native of Kan-su and Koko-nor. 



Its habits are similar to those of the Mongolian 

 argali. It is generally found in the more elevated 

 plateaux, avoiding the steep and rugged mountains, 

 and keeping to the outer slopes and hills ; in 

 Northern Tibet it may frequently be seen pasturing 

 along with kulans and antelope in the ravines. 



The senses of the aT-gali are keener than those 

 of any other animal in Tibet, and it is an exceedingly 

 wary animal, although hardly ever hunted ; the 

 Mongols finding it useless to attempt shooting them 

 with their matchlocks. They collect in flocks of 

 five to fifteen, and occasionally twenty-five to thirty, 

 accompanied by one, two, or three rams, which 

 appear to guide and protect the ewes ; the latter 

 relying on their leaders to warn them of danger and 

 conduct them to a place of safety. When alarmed 

 they run for a few hundred yards and wheel round ; 

 the leader will then often climb the nearest hill or 

 rock, in order to reconnoitre the surrounding coun- 

 try. In this position the ram forms a fine picture, 

 his graceful figure standing well out from the rocks, 

 and his snow-white breast glistening in the sun. 



I often asked myself which was the finer beast 

 of the two, the yak or the argali ; and the best 

 answer I could make was, that each of these animals 

 was perfect in its way. The mighty size of the yak, 

 his ponderous horns and long fringe of hair almost 



