SHEEP. 



225 



smaller but closely-allied Cyprian sheep, which may indeed be nothing more 

 than a geographical race of the other, diminished in size and modified by the 

 small area of its habitat and 

 its long isolation. This elegant 

 species is, indeed, the smallest 

 of all the wild sheep, the rams 

 standing only just over 26 

 inches at the shoulder, and 

 their horns not exceeding 23 

 inches in length. According 

 to Col. J. Biddulph, it is dis- 

 tinguished from the typical 

 form of the Armenian sheep 

 by the horns being more 

 slender, with their outer front 

 angle almost completely 

 obliterated, and their tips 

 directed upwards instead of 

 downwards. The fringe on the 

 throat is also less developed 



and there is a much more distinct dark line dividing the white of the belly from 

 the rufous of the flanks. There is, however, a variety of the Armenian sheep in 

 which the horns approximate in form to those of this species. 



HEAD OP CYPRIAN SHEEP. 



(From Biddulph, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1884.) 



THE MOUFLON (Ovis musimon). 



The European mouflon, now confined to the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, 

 is the last member of the typical group of wild sheep. In height the rams stand 

 about 27 J inches at the withers; the build of the animal being very compact and 

 neat. The hair is short and close on the body, with an abundant under- wool, but 

 in the rams is elongated into a short mane on the neck and a fringe on the lower 

 part of the throat. With the exception of a dark brown line down the back, and 

 a conspicuous light grey saddle-like patch on the sides of the rams, the general 

 colour of the upper-parts is foxy red, passing into ashy grey on the head, while the 

 muzzle, a streak on the rump, the sides of the tail, the feet, and portions of the 

 lower parts of the legs, and the under-part of the body are white. The horns curve 

 forwards by the side of the face, and vary in length from 20 to 28 and 29 inches. 



Although reported to have occurred formerly in parts of Greece 

 and the Balearic Isles, it does not seem certain that the mouflon 

 was ever an inhabitant of these countries ; while Brehm is doubtful if its alleged 

 former occurrence in Spain is a fact. At one time the mouflon was extremely 

 numerous in Corsica and Sardinia, accounts being extant of the slaughter of four 

 hundred or five hundred head during a single hunt. At the present day it is, 

 however, far less numerous, so that instead of being met with in large flocks, it is 

 now only seen in companies of from four to five up to seven individuals ; while in 

 the largest " drives " not more than forty or fifty head are ever killed at one time. 



VOL. ii. 15 



Distribution. 



