VARIOUS WILD SHEEP 315 



region, unless there is a failure in the supply of natural 

 food. It is an extremely hardy animal, even in winter 

 seldom descending lower than 12,000 feet, at which ele- 

 vation only lichens are procurable, and even that poor food 

 is only available in the most exposed situations, where the 

 icy blasts have swept away the deep snow. 



Travellers assert that the Argali can leap from a height of 

 thirty feet, alighting without the semblance of a stumble. 

 Inhabiting only the most barren and desolate mountain 

 regions, the rams in particular are considered to be most 

 difficult animals to stalk. Not only when they are feeding, 

 but also when they are sleeping, the Argalis post sentinels ; 

 and from the very nature of the country it is almost an 

 impossibility to approach within gunshot without the 

 animals taking alarm. 



There are numerous other species of wild Sheep that call 

 for only brief attention. The Kamschatkan Wild Sheep 

 (Ovis nivicola) and the Pamir Wild Sheep (Ovis poli) have 

 their habitat indicated in their names. This last-named is 

 also known as Marco Polo's Sheep, so called because the 



HORNS OF THE PAMIR SHEEP. 



famous traveller was the first to describe the animal. The 

 Urial (Ovis vignei), a bearded Sheep, is found in the Western 

 Punjab, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and part of Persia ; 

 under the name Sha the same animal extends as far as 

 Northern Tibet. No other Old World Sheep has so wide 

 a range. 



The Barbary Wild Sheep (Ovis tmgelaphus), Plate 

 XXIX. Fig. i, or Arui, is the only wild member of the 

 family found in the whole of Africa. In appearance it 

 differs from any other species in the possession of very 



