72 



molars occupied 2| inches ; width of second true molars apart, pos- 

 teriorly and externally, 2^ inches ; of anterior false molars, measured 

 outside and before, 1|- inch ; greatest width of palate 1^ inch, andfrom 

 front of first false molar to anterior portion of occipital /orawjew, 5| 

 inches. Mr. Vigne, indeed, assures me that the adult has only five 

 grinders on each side of both jaws, as in the Chirew, which, if nor- 

 mal, would make an important distinction, as the smaller specimen 

 would undoubtedly have developed a third true molar, and possesses 

 three false ones ; whereas it is in one of the latter that the Chirew 

 is deficient. I am inclined, however, to regard the two specimens 

 as belonging to the same species, since I have observed analogous 

 differences in the mere flexure of the horn in different Corsican 

 Moufflons ; but it was at all events proper to indicate the disparity. 



" ' Vast numbers of this species,' relates Mr. Vigne, ' are driven 

 down by the snow in winter to the branches of the Indus, near 

 Astor, at the southern extremity of Little Thibet, where the river 

 breaks through the chain of the Himalaya. I once saw a young 

 one, apparently of this species, in Persia, but took no memorandum 

 of it at the time ; it was dirty and draggled, but, I think, was covered 

 with short wool.' I have great pleasure in dedicating this species 

 to that gentleman. 



"11. O. Musimon, Linnaeus : the Moufflon Sheep of Corsica and 

 Sardinia, but not, there is reason to suspect, of the Levantine coun- 

 tries. It is unnecessary to give a detailed description of this beau- 

 tiful little species, though I may mention that the fine living male 

 in the Gardens measures 39 inches from nose to tail, the tail 5 

 inches ; from nose to base of horn 7 inches ; ears 4 inches ; neck, 

 from posterior base of horn to the abrupt angle of its insertion, 8 

 inches, and thence to base of tail 21 inches; height at the shoulder 

 2^ feet. The horns of this individual are remarkable for not spiring 

 in the least degree, whence they point towards the back of the neck : 

 they measure 21 inches over their curvature, and 8^ inches round at 

 base, being in their fifth year of growth ; their widest portion apai't 

 is 15 inches, and at the tips 6 inches; but another pair, upon the 

 stuffed specimen in the museum, which show the more usual slight 

 spirature, are 26 inches long, having the widest portion 14 inches 

 apart, and the tips as much as 1 2 inches : this pair shows seven years 

 of growth, and their development was evidently completed, though 

 they are only 7 inches in girth at base. The female has seldom any 

 horns, which, when they exist, are ordinarily about 2 inches long. 



" The character of the horn of the Moufflon is nearly the same as 

 that of the domestic Ram, only that it is never so much prolonged, 

 nor indeed to more than two-thirds of a circle : the inner front edge is 

 acute to near the base, where the outer one approaches to an equality 

 with it ; the first half being thus unequally triangular, and the re- 

 mainder much compressed, with strongly marked ruga;, and having 

 the inner surface of the horn concave. It has always appeared to 

 me, however, that the specifical distinctness of the Moufflon is very 

 obvious, and I doubt whether it has contributed at all to the origin 

 of any tame race. That it interbreeds freely with the latter, under 



