26 THE 311JSK1'. 



it, has been found in Nepaul, both on the Indian and Thibe- 

 tian sides of the snowy crests of the Himmalayas. It is de- 

 scribed as having horns twenty-two inches along the curve, 

 diverging greatly, but scarcely spiral ; and as having fur of 

 a bluish-gray colour inclining to red, the hairs concealing a 

 scanty fleece of fine soft wool.* 



These are the wild species of Ovidse which have as yet been 

 described. But there is just reason to believe that others 

 exist, although as yet too imperfectly known to be placed in 

 the catalogues of naturalists. It is certain that Wild Sheep, 

 approaching even more to the characters of certain domesti- 

 cated races, exist in the immense countries bordering on the 

 Hindoo Koosh, namely, Caubul, and the countries of the Tur- 

 comans, Persians, and others, towards the Caspian. One of 

 these is described by Mr Fraser, in his interesting travels in 

 these wild countries, as having been killed by the hunters of 

 his party, and as being a fine animal, equal in size, and supe- 

 rior in strength, to the largest of the common races. It pro- 

 bably resembles a race of Sheep widely domesticated in the 

 same countries, which has by some been termed the Persian 

 breed, but which is to be distinguished from another race, to 

 be afterwards referred to, found in the same country, and 

 likewise termed Persian. The Sheep in question are covered 

 with a very coarse hairy fur of a gray colour. Their horns .are 

 bent outward in the manner of the Argali, and, what is worthy 

 of note, the head entirely resembles that of the Ram, as it is 

 depicted on Eastern sculptures. This domesticated race is 

 very widely diffused, extending to the Tartar countries inland ; 

 to Arabia, where it forms the most common breed of the Be- 

 douins ; and across the Indus over a great part of Hindostan. 



Ancient writers, too, speak of Wild Sheep, but with notices 

 so indistinct, that no conclusions can be founded upon them. 

 It is not certainly known whether Wild Sheep existed in the 

 west of Europe. Boetius, a chronicler extremely credulous, 



* Proceedings of the Zoological Society, and the Asiatic Transactions. 



