CYPRIAN WILD SHEEP OR MOUFFLON. 



215 



CYPRIAN WILD SHEEP or MOUFFLON (Ovis ophion). 

 Habitat Cyprus. 



AOUDAD (Ovis tragelaplms). 



[BLYTH, P.Z.S. 1840, p. 75.] 



THIS animal appears to vary considerably in size some exceeding 

 a Fallow Deer in stature, while others are much smaller. It has 

 no beard on the chin, like the true goats, but is remarkable for the 

 long hanging hair in front of the neck and on the upper part of 

 the fore-limbs, the former attaining in fine males to about a foot in 

 length, and the latter to 9 in. ; there is also some lengthened hair 

 at the setting on of the head, and a dense nuchal mane, the hairs 

 of which are 3 in. long, continued over the withers till lost about 

 the middle of the back ; general colour yellow-brown ; horns mode- 

 rately stout, turning outwards, backwards, and so inwards, with 

 the tips inclining towards each other. 



This species is well known as the " Aoudad " of the Moors, and 

 the " Kebsh " of the Egyptians ; it is also, according to Riippell, 

 the " Tedal " of the inhabitants of Nubia, which is doubtless the 

 same as "Teybal," applied by Burkhardt to the wild goat of that 

 region, in addition to the word " Beden," which (in common with 

 Riippell and others) he also assigns to the latter. 



