HISTORY. 23 



cies of true Sheep which have been found in the state of na- 

 ture, those most generally admitted into zoological systems 

 are : 



1. Ovis AMMON, the Argali of Asia. 



2. Ovis MONTANA, the Rocky-Mountain Sheep. 



3. Ovis TRAGELAPHUS, the Bearded Argali. 



4. Ovis MUSIMON, the Musmon. 







The ARGALI of ASIA is somewhat less than the size of a stag. 

 He has enormous horns, measuring about a foot in circum- 

 ference at the base, and from three to four feet in length, 

 triangular, rising from the summit of the head so as nearly 

 to touch at the root, ascending, stretching out laterally, and 

 bending forward at the point. He has a fur of short hair, 

 covering a coat of soft white wool. The colour of the fur 

 externally is brown, becoming brownish-gray in winter : there 

 is a buff-coloured streak along the back, and a large spot of 

 a lighter buff colour pn the haunch, surrounding and in- 

 cluding the tail. The female differs from the male in being 

 smaller, in having the horns more slender and straight, and 

 in the absence of the disc on the haunch. In both sexes the 

 tail is very short, the eye-lashes are whitish, and the hair 

 beneath the throat is longer than on other parts of the body. 



These creatures inhabit the mountains and elevated plains 

 of Asia, from the Himmalaya Mountains westward to the 

 Caucasus, and eastward and northward to Kamschatka and 

 the Ocean. They are agile and strong, but very timid, shun- 

 ning the least appearance of danger : their motion is zigzag, 

 and they stop in their course to gaze upon their pursuer, after 

 the manner of the domestic Sheep. They are usually found 

 in very small flocks ; and, at the rutting season, the males 

 fight desperately, using their horns and forehead in the man- 

 ner of the common ram. They are hunted by the people of 

 the countries for their flesh, which is esteemed to be savoury, 

 and for their skins, which are made into clothing. In autumn, 

 after having pastured during the summer on the mountains 



