CHAPTER XII 



WILD SHEEP AND GOATS 



URIAL, OR PUNJAB WILD SHEEP. The first representative we 

 have of the Wild Sheep, the Urial (Fig. 177), ranges from Bokhara 

 in Asiatic Russia, through Persia, Afghanistan and the Ladak 

 territories of Northern India to the Punjab. It is sandy-coloured, 

 the ram having a black or black and white ruff, and is about equal 

 in size to the common Sheep known to every one. Both sexes have 

 horns, but those possessed by the female are much less significant 

 than those of the ram shown in Fig. 177. Whilst known in the 

 Punjab as the Urial, to the north of that territory, in Ladak, it is 

 called the Sha, a name which would surely be more appropriate if 

 applied to this animal in Persia ! 



The fine circular sweep of the horns both in this species and 

 also in Blanford's Sheep (Fig. 178), which is merely a variety of 

 the Urial, are well worth noting, and it should be stated that in 

 the case of Blanford's Sheep the horns are larger and the spiral is 

 greater. The short horns of the ewe are almost straight. 



The Urial attains a height of about two and a half feet at the 

 shoulder, but this applies to the animal inhabiting the Punjab, as 

 the beast found in Ladak is its successful rival, attaining a height of 

 at least three feet. This Ladak variety is distinguished also by the 

 less developed ruff of the adult ram and the thicker horns at the 

 base. Ewes and young rams differ from the rufous-grey or sandy 

 of the adult male in being uniform greyish-brown. 



This Sheep has a wide geographical distribution, for it is found 

 inhabiting countries with cold or hot climates, and has a more 

 extensive range than any other kind of Old World Sheep. In some 

 districts it frequents grassy habitats, in others open valleys and 

 hilly environments are resorted to, whilst in others, again, it is found 

 on precipitous hills among bushes. It is of wary disposition, utter- 

 ing a shrill sort of whistle when disturbed, as well as an ordinary 

 bleat so characteristic of Sheep generally. 

 Q 225 



