SHEEP. 2I9 



their valleys wide and open. Here these sheep dwell throughout the year, 

 rarely travelling from one mountain range to another; a single flock, when undis- 

 turbed, frequently inhabiting one and the same mountain for many successive years. 

 Up to the breeding-season the rams and ewes keep separate from one another, the 

 former generally going in parties of from three to five individuals, while the latter 

 arc found singly; but shortly before that time the two sexes assemble together in 

 flocks of from ten to fifteen in number. They appear to be essentially diurnal in 

 their habits, feeding in the morning and evening on the mountain slopes and 

 valleys, and retiring to rest about midday. Both when feeding and sleeping, 

 sentinels are placed to warn the flock of danger. In summer the argalis feed on 

 grass and various herbs, but in winter they are compelled to subsist on moss, lichen, 

 and dry grass. At such seasons they resort to the more exposed portions of the 

 mountains, as it is there only that the wind has blown away the snow from the 

 lichens and other herbage. According to Prejewalski, the pairing-season of the 

 argalis in Mongolia is in the month of August ; but Brehm was informed by the 

 Kirghis that in Southern Siberia it does not take place till October. The younger 

 ewes almost invariably give birth to only a single lamb at a time, but the older 

 ones frequently have two. 



As with the American wild sheep, it has been frequently asserted that the 

 argali when taking a long leap will break its fall by alighting on its horns. In 

 both instances this statement has however been contradicted by the most reliable 

 authorities. Prejewalski states he has seen these sheep leap down from a height 

 of from eighteen to thirty feet and alight on their feet without harm. 



The country inhabited by the Tibetan argali is of the most barren and desolate 

 nature, scorched in summer during the day by the untempered rays of the sun, and 

 swept during the night and throughout the winter by blasts of icy coldness. For 

 days the traveller may journey through these arid regions without seeing a trace 

 of a bosh, although he may here and there come across some low bush-jungle in 

 the more sheltered valleys. As a rule, the elevations are undulating and shelving, 

 and the valleys wide and open. In such exposed situations animals naturally 

 become extremely wary, but this wariness is carried to the highest degree in the 

 rams of the present species, which are considered by General Kinloch to be more 

 difficult to stalk than any other kind of Indian or Tibetan game. The females and 

 young rams, on the other hand, are not difficult to approach, and in Ladak may not 

 unfrequently be met with in considerable numbers. In spite, however, of their 

 general wariness, adult rams will occasionally approach within rifle-shot; the 

 present writer on one occasion having seen a ram accompanied by two ewes cross 

 a pass and deliberately descend the valley to within a short distance of the spot 

 where he himself was lying concealed. During the summer the old rams are 

 generally found in small parties of from three to four to upwards of some fifteen 

 individuals of their own sex, and quite apart from the ewes; but the above-, 

 mentioned instance shows that they may occasionally be accompanied by them. 

 The breeding-season is in the winter, when these sheep collect in the lower and 

 more sheltered valleys ; and the young are bom in May or June.. The flesh of the 

 nyan, as the author .can testify from personal experience, is most excellent, being 

 dark -coloured, fine-grained, and well-flavoured. In Ladak the chief haunts of this 



