THE MOUFLON 313 



meat of good quality. The Sheep of the Shetlands and 

 Orkneys are small and hardy, frequently horned, and vary- 

 ing in colour from white to black. Their soft, fine wool is 

 largely mixed with silky hair. 



Some breeds of domesticated Sheep have remarkably 

 broad tails. A Palestine variety (Ovis laticaudatus) pos- 

 sesses an enormous, heavy, laterally developed tail, which 

 quite commonly reaches a weight of from ten to forty 

 pounds, while a weight of sixty or seventy pounds is not 

 unknown. Similar animals are found in Tartary, Arabia, 

 Persia, and Barbary. The tip of the tail is horny, and in 

 many cases trails upon the ground. Very often animals 

 are supplied by the shepherds with little sledges on which 

 to support their specially weighty appendages. The fat 

 tail was a part of the peace-offering as ordained for the 

 Hebrews (Lev. iii. 9). 



MOUFLON (Ovis musimori). 

 Coloured Plate XX. Fig. i. 



The merest glance at the illustration bears out the earlier 

 remarks concerning the close affinity of the Sheep and 

 Goats. In appearance the animal is nothing like the 

 domestic Sheep, yet the Mouflon is only its wild relation 

 of Corsica and Sardinia. Even if we felt inclined to query 

 the relationship between the domestic species and this alert- 

 eyed mountain creature, the animals themselves are in no 

 doubt upon the matter. A Mouflon will frequently stray 

 into the valleys and join a flock of tame Sheep, and a 

 deserted lamb will seek comfort with the Mouflons, if 

 opportunity is only afforded it. 



The Mouflon only stands about thirty inches at the 

 shoulder, but what it lacks in size is atoned for in vigour, 

 for it is by no means the rather helpless animal of the 

 domesticated kind. It is active and agile, springing up 

 rocky heights with the greatest ease and rapidity ; and so 

 difficult of approach is it, that only exceptionally good 

 shots can hope to add it to their bag. 



In colour the animal is brownish-grey or foxy red, with 



