CHAPTER XXX. 



THE BURRELL. 



Ovis Nahura. 

 Generally throughout the Himalayas — Baral — Beirut. In Thibet — Ndpu. 



The Burrell inhabits the whole of the lofty Himalayan Range from Ladak to Bhutan, 

 but is not found in Kashmir, nor in the mountains to the west of that country. 



It is probably never found at a lower elevation than 10,000 feet, which prevents it from 

 extending far to the south of the backbone of the great range, but we have no data to show 

 how far its habitat may stretch to the north. To my own knowledge, it is to be met with in 

 Ladak, Spiti, Garhwal, Kamaon, near the Ni'tf and Chor Hoti Passes, and in all the valleys 

 towards the upper waters of the Indus and the Sutlej ; while I have seen live specimens 

 brought down from Bhutan. 



Jerdon was therefore mistaken in saying that it does not occur to the west of the Sutlej : 

 76 E. Longitude would, I should say, be very nearly the line of demarcation. The Burrell 

 appears to be a sort of connecting link between the sheep and the goat tribe, both in appear- 

 ance and habits ; its horns especially differing widely in shape from those of the domestic 

 ram, a type which all the other known sheep more or less closely follow ; while it frequents 

 precipitous and dangerous ground which goats delight in, and other sheep usually avoid. It 

 has indeed been classed as Pseudovis by some naturalists,- but I think that the generic name 

 of Caprovis, (which has been applied to the Oorial [Ovis Cycloceros\ and the Shapoo or Oorren 

 [Ovis VigneiJ), would be much more applicable. 



The separation of genera, species, and varieties is, however, one of those knotty points 

 which has led to great differences among naturalists ; differences which become irreconcilable 

 when the disputants follow different rules in their systems of classification. 



The male Burrell is a fine-looking animal, and though the horns are not so graceful as 

 those of some other species, they are quite unique in shape, and present a singular and stri- 

 king appearance as he gazes at one from some lofty rock. The Burrell does not stand nearly 

 so high as the Nyan, and is differently built, being stouter and standing on short legs ; in 

 fact, being adapted for climbing among dangerous precipices, at which probably no animal 

 excels it. 



The color is a light bluish grey above, and white beneath. The chest and throat, the 

 legs, and a line along the side separating the grey from the white, are jet black. The hair is 



