48 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



noticed that the latter is composed of two quite 

 separate structures. The sheath itself, however, is 

 united externally along its inner margin for the 

 greater part of its length, but, diverging at its ex- 

 tremity, finally forms two distinct points ; while, 

 moreover, a thin horny partition divides the interior 

 of the sheath into two portions. The horns of 

 these sheep take a bold backward sweep from their 

 bases, and, in some cases, their curvature is so 

 pronounced that it is necessary to saw off the tips in 

 order to prevent them from piercing the backs of the 

 animals' necks. There appears to be a certain 

 amount of mystery regarding the origin of these 

 creatures, and some doubt as to whether their 

 peculiar horn-formation is not the outcome of arti- 

 ficial manipulation. Some interesting correspond- 

 ence was published in the Field concerning this 

 question, and in the issue of that paper dated 

 April 27, 1911, the following extract from a letter 

 sent to the late Mr. R. Lydekker by Colonel J. 

 Manners-Smith, British Resident at the Court of 

 Nepal, was published : ' The enquiries which have 

 been kindly made for me by his Excellency the 

 Prime Minister of Nepal, Maharaja Sir Chandra 

 Shrim Shere Jang, have resulted in a clearing up 

 of the mystery attaining to these curiosities. There 

 is no special breed of one-horned sheep in Nepal, 

 nor are the specimens which have been brought here 

 for sale natural freaks. By certain maltreatment, 

 which is described below, ordinary two-horned 

 sheep are converted into a one-horned variety. The 

 process adopted is branding with a red-hot iron 



