THE ARGALI. 647 



The Moufflon, Capra musimon, is the only wild sheep found in 

 Europe. It inhabits Sardinia and Corsica, frequenting the lofty peaks 

 of those islands, but it is an error to confound with it the varieties found 

 in the Balearic Islands and Spain, or in Greece. In olden days this 

 variety of wild sheep was very abundant, as many as five hundred 

 having been slain in a single chase ; but at present, twenty or thirty head 

 are the highest numbers killed, even when the sportsmen have all the 

 needful appliances. 



The Moufflon is one of the smallest of wild sheep, standing a little 

 over two feet in height ; the horns attain a length of two feet, the coat is 

 pretty short and smooth, but in winter becomes very thick, and forms a 

 kind of mane. Unlike the Aoudad, the Moufflon is found in tribes of 

 fifty to a hundred, led by an old sturdy ram. Such a troop chooses for 

 its dwelling some inaccessible height, and, like other social ruminants, 

 throws out sentinels to give alarm. The movements of the Moufflon are 

 lively, quick, and safe, but are deficient in endurance. 



Tame Moufflons may be often seen in Corsica and Sardinia, but they 

 are troublesome ; the bucks, especially, losing all fear of man, and attack- 

 ing him out of mere wantonness. 



THE ARGALI. 



The Bearded ARGALI, Capra argali (Plate L), is the giant of the Sheep 

 group, being nearly as large as a moderate sized ox. The horns of an 

 adult male are nearly four feet in length, and measure nineteen inches in 

 circumference at the base : they curve boldly downward till beneath the 

 chin, then recurve and come to a point. The surface of these horns is 

 covered with a set of deep grooves set closely together, and extending 

 to the tips. Firmly set as these horns are, they are not unfrequently 

 knocked off in the annual duels. 



It is a mountain-loving animal, being found on the highest grounds 

 of Southern Siberia and the mountains of Central Asia, and not fond of 

 descending to the level ground. 



Its power of limb and sureness of foot are truly marvelous, when the 

 great size of the animal is taken into consideration. If disturbed while 

 feeding in the valley, it makes at once for the rocks, and flies up their 

 craggy surfaces with wonderful ease and rapidity. Living in such local- 

 ities, it is liable to suffer great changes of temperature, and is sometimes 



