UNDISCOVERED SHEEP IN ASIA 65 



which here and there came to the surface in deliciously 

 clear and cool springs. Many brilliant flowers decked 

 the mossy tundra; yellow, purple, hght blue, rose, red, 

 and white. Little low creepers resembled cherry trees 

 and junipers, though hardly protruding above the moss, 

 but the willow grew several inches tall. 



We were all aboard by noon and the schooner got 

 imder way with two natives from the distant village on 

 board to guide us to the supposed sheep country. Not 

 that they knew anything themselves about it, but others 

 who herded reindeer in Penkegnei Bay, the northern arm 

 of Seniavine Strait, had brought three sheep carcasses 

 to trade earlier in the spring. The animals were said to 

 be small and darkish but with the characteristic curling 

 horns of the wild sheep as found in America. 



It was highly interesting to us to hear this, for no 

 mountain sheep had been discovered as far north and 

 east as this; their known haunts in Eastern Asia being 

 confined to the Stanovoi Mountains in Northern Siberia 

 and the Peninsula of Kamchatka. Dr. C. Hart Merriam, 

 of the Biological Survey, told me after our return, how- 

 ever, that he had seen sheep horns some years previously 

 at Plover Bay. 



We were ultimately destined to disappointment in our 

 quest for sheep at this point, but were finally convinced 

 that the sheep existed not far from the head of the bay 

 in which we lay at anchor. Five days were to be wasted 

 in a vain attempt to go inland and hunt for them. 



Upon arrival we went ashore in the launch and while 

 Kleinschmidt interviewed the families of the deer men 

 (Chukchi who herded reindeer for an occupation and 

 living), Kusche, Lovering and Collins walked up the 

 marshes to the westward with shotguns while Elting and 



