110 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



song of the rock-thrush streams forth. Around the peaks the 

 cheerful choughs flutter; above them the golden-eagle circles by 

 day, and the horned owl flies silently as a ghost by night, both bent 

 on catching one of the exceedingly abundant rock ptarmigan, or, it 

 may be, a careless marmot. More noteworthy, however, is the 

 Archar of the Kirghiz, one of the giant wild sheep of Central Asia, 

 the same animal that I had the good fortune to shoot on the Arkat 

 mountains. 



According to the reports which I gathered after careful cross- 

 examination of the Kirghiz, the archar occurs not only here, but 

 also on other not very lofty ranges of the western Siberian steppes. 

 They are said to go in small troops of five to fifteen head, rams 

 and ewes living in separate companies until the breeding season. 

 Each troop keeps its own ground unless it be startled or disturbed; 

 in which case it hastens from one range to another, yet never 

 very far. Towards sunset the herd ascends, under the guidance of 

 the leader, to the highest peaks, there to sleep in places scarce acces- 

 sible to other creatures; at sunrise, both old and young descend to the 

 valleys to graze and to drink at chosen springs; at noon, they lie 

 down to rest and ruminate in the shade of the rocks, in places 

 which admit of open outlook; towards evening they descend again 

 to graze. Such is their daily routine both in summer and winter. 

 They eat such plants as domesticated sheep are fond of, and they 

 are, when needs must, easily satisfied; but even in winter they 

 rarely suffer from want, and in spring they become so vigorous 

 that from that season until autumn they are fastidious, and will 

 eat only the most palatable herbs. Their usual mode of motion is 

 a rapid, exceedingly expeditious trot; and even when frightened 

 they do not quicken their steps very markedly unless a horseman 

 pursue them. Then they always take to the rocks and soon make, 

 their escape. When in flight either on the plain or on the moun- 

 tains they almost always keep in line, one running close behind 

 another, and, if suddenly surprised and scattered, they re-form in 

 linear order as speedily as possible. Among the rocks they move, 

 whether going upwards or downwards, with surprising ease, agility, 

 and confidence. Without any apparent strain, without any trace of 



