527 



rocks, from whence it issues at dusk to feed in the fields and valleys, 

 returning to its retreats at daybreak. 



When suddenly alarmed, the males give a loud shrill whistle like 

 the Ibex, which is an invariable signal for the departure of the 

 herd, which keeps moving all the rest of the day until dusk. Their 

 bleat is like that of the tame species ; and the males fight in the 

 same way : but the form of the body and infraorbital glands simu- 

 late the Deer; hence it is often called the "Deer Sheep." It 

 equals the Deer in speed and activity. 



The female gestates seven months. The rutting-season is in Sep- 

 tember. The young are often caught, but are difficult to rear. I 

 attempted to rear several ; and although they became very tame, 

 and took to a she-goat, all eventually died of a distemper accompanied 

 by a discharge from the nose and cough. The lungs were found, 

 after death, in an inflamed state, in fact, well-marked cases of acute 

 pneumonia ; with care, however, they can be domesticated ; and I 

 have seen them become as docile and tame as any of the domestic 

 varieties. The males, however, are apt to become pugnacious and 

 unmanageable. 



53. Caprovis argali (Pallas). 



Nu ang of the Ladakees and Tibetians. 



The borders of Ladakh towards the north, and its lakes, may be 

 said to be the most southern limits of this species, and these only in 

 winter and spring. A few are met with at the sources of the Ganges. 

 Large herds wander over the mountains around Yarkund and north 

 of Nobra. I was told by a friend, who had shot many in the latter 

 country, that in all his experience of Himalayan shooting, he had 

 never beheld a more interesting sight than when viewing a herd of 

 some twenty of these noble-looking animals dashing past him, led by 

 a fine old male, which he killed, and whose horns measured 3 feet 2 

 inches round the curve, and 1 foot 6 inches round its greatest cir- 

 cumference. The horns of the female are flat, narrow, and curve 

 backwards, the length being seldom more than 18 inches. 



54. Ovis aries, Linn. 



Var. Hunniah Sheep. 



Black-faced Sheep of Ladakh. 



Plains of Roopshoo Ladakh, where herds of these animals are 

 reared by the nomadic races of Tartars. The 4-horned varieties are 

 not uncommon. Variety Dumba, or Cabool Dumba, is met with in 

 Peshawur and N.W. frontier districts of the Punjab. Common. 



55. Pseudois nahoor, Hodgson. 



1. Snu of Tibet. 



2. Naboo of Ladakh. 



3. Burr el of Europeans and natives. 



Is found in Ladakh, Nobra, and Great Tibet. Seems confined to 

 those countries on the Western Ranges. Judging from the great 



