ovis. 499 



0. hlaafordi is a variety of the urial from Kelat, Baluchistan, 

 with horns diverging throughout so as to form an open spiral, 

 instead of each lying in one plane or nearly so. Thus the tips of 

 the horns are very much farther apart than in typical 0. viynei. 

 This character, I am now convinced, is not of specific importance, 

 and in this view Mr. Hume agrees. 



Habits. In Ladak this sheep inhabits open valleys ; in Astor and 

 Gilgit it keeps to grassy ground at moderate elevations below the 

 forest ; in the Salt Range of the Punjab, and in Sind, Baluchistan, 

 and Persia, it is found on undulating or hilly ground cut up by 

 ravines, and is more often seen on stony and rocky hill-sides than 

 amongst bushes and scrub. The herds vary usually from 3 or 4 to 

 20 or 30 in number ; the sexes are generally together, but the males 

 often keep apart in summer. These sheep are wary and active ; 

 although not such masters of the art of climbing amongst preci- 

 pices as the goats, tahr, or bharal, they get over steep places with 

 wonderful ease. Their alarm cry is a shrill whistle, their usual call 

 a kind of bleat. 



The rutting-season in the Punjab is September. According to 

 Adams the period of gestation is 7 months, but according to Sclater 

 (P. Z. S. 1S63, p. 230), from observations in the Zoological Gardens 

 in London, only 4. It is not improbable that the true period is 

 between the two. The young iu Astor are produced about the 

 beginning of June, as observed by Mr. H. Littledale, and the 

 rutting-season there must be considerably later than September. 

 One or two young are born. This species has bred freely with 

 tame sheep. The occurrence of wild hybrids with 0. Jiodr/soni has 

 been noted in the account of the latter. The flesh of 0. vvjnei is 

 excellent. 



346. Ovis nahura. The Bharal or blue Wild Sheep. 



Ovis nayaur, Hodgson, As. Res. xviii, pt. 2, p. 135 (1833). 



Ovis nahoor, Hodgson, P. Z. S. 1834, p. 107 ; id. J. A. S. B. x, p. 231, 



pis. i, ii, p. 913, xi, p. 283 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 129 ; M.-Edu: 



Rech. Mam. p. 357, pis. Ixviii, Ixix ; W. Sclater, Cat. p. 140. 

 Ovis bunhel, Ulgth, P. Z. S. 1840, p. 67 ; id. A. M. N. H. vii, 



p. 248 ; id. J. A. S. B. x, p. 868. 

 Ovis iiahura, Grag, List Mam. B. M. p. 170 (1843) ; Blyth, Cat. 



p. 178; Jerdon, Mam. p. 296; Blanford, J. A. S. B. xli, pt. 2, 



p. 40; id. Yark. Miss., Ma7n.-p.86, pi. xiv. 

 Pseudois nahoor, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. xv, p. 343, xvi, p. 702; 



Horsp'eld, Cat. p. 176 ; Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 527 ; Lgdekker, 



J. A. S. B. xlix, pt. 2, p. 131. 



Bharal, Bharar, Bharut (males often Menda, a ram), H. ; Na, Sna, 

 Ladak ; Wa, War, Sutlej Valley ; Nervati, Nepal ; Nao, Gnao, Bhotia. 



Hair of uniform length throughout, no trace of mane or ruff. 

 No suborbital glands nor lachrymal fossae, but interdigital and 

 inguinal glands present. Ears short. Tail longer than in 0. vi<jnei 

 and 0. hodf/soni. 



Horns in males rounded at the base or subquadrangular, nearly 



