G2 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X 



seen near these places where the horns are fouud, and it is evident 

 that they only come in winter. 



I think the weight of a good big ram's head is nearly forty 

 pounds. I got one which is 71 inches long and 15^ round the base. 

 The sinew which runs down the nape of the neck is quite as bio- as a 

 man's wrist. Such a sinew is necessitated by the weight of the head. 

 When galloping they have a peculiar way of keeping the head quite 

 erect ; this is certainly due to the great weight of the horns which 

 would be felt much more if the head were kept straight out. All the 

 same, they go very fast indeed down-hill, and their galloj) is a lono- 

 stride even when going up-hill ; but I noticed more than once what 

 a peculiar stiff action they have in the shoulder which is due to the 

 way they carry their heads. 



It is very difficult to make out which is the best amongst several 

 rams, the shape of the horns being such that in profile it is impossible 

 to see them well, and when seen from the front one can only make out 

 how broad they are from tip to tip, and that very roughly. 



When stalking these animals the golden rule of never approaching 

 from below but always from above is of great importance. They do 

 not mind going up or down-hill* and will cross a valley of more than 

 a mile in breadth when disturbed. When shot at much they go ofl 

 great distances and leave the country. I do not consider that they are 

 hard to kill considering their size. A 500 express is quite enough for 

 them. Mine was a double barrel 500 magnum, shooting five drams of 

 powder and a hollow bullet about one inch long. I found it was a 

 capital weapon for Ovis polii and other game. 



Some sportsmen and naturalists have tried to make out that there 

 are numerous species of these giant sheep, but I am strongly of 

 opinion that in Central Asia there are only two species, viz., the 

 Ovis polii and the Ovis amnion. The shape of the horns of the former 

 species does vary slightly, and it is interesting to compare the two 

 heads shown in the accompanying plate. It will be seen that in one 

 case the horns touch each other at the base, while in the other they 

 are a considerable distance apart, but both these heads came from the 

 same district (south-east of the Victoria lake) and there is no doubt 

 that they are of the same species. 



* Some mountain game when disturbed go up-hill, but the Oi-iit does not. What they do 

 is to get out of tlie way by the easiest road. 



