648 UNGULATA. 



wholly enveloped in the deep snow-drifts that are so common upon 

 mountainous regions. In such cases they lie quietly under the snow, 

 and continue respiration by means of a small breathing-hole through the 

 snow. For these imprisoned Argalis the hunters eagerly search, as the 

 animal is deprived of its fleet and powerful limbs, and is forced igno- 

 miniously to succumb to the foe, who impales him by driving his spear 

 through the snow into the creature's body. Like others of the same 

 group, it is gregarious, and lives in small flocks. 



THE KATSHKAR. 



The Katshkar, Capra polii, is described by the old traveler, Marco 

 Polo, as abundant in the elevated plateau of Pamere. It is as large as 

 the Argali, measuring six feet in length, and four feet in height. The 

 horns curve downward in a complete circle, and attain a length of nearly 

 five feet. This sheep seems to be found in all the mountain table-lands 

 of Asia, in the plateaux of Thian-Shan and North Thibet, and of the 

 Aksai, where it ascends above the " timber-line." The herds consist of 

 ten to fifteen, led by a buck whose snowy breast, long curved horns, and 

 proud gait make him a noble object. This animal is hunted in a peculiar 

 manner. The Cossacks and Kirghises go out in pairs to the chase. 

 They are armed with long heavy muskets, which are fired from a rest. 

 If the creature is not killed at the first fire, then the chase begins ; one 

 sportsman presses the animal closely, the other cuts off corners, and tries 

 to conceal himself in places where the game must pass. 



THE BIG HORN. 



The Big Horn, Capra montana (Plate L), ranks next in size to the elk 

 among the horned beasts of the Great West. It is a curious combination 

 of the body of a deer and the head of a sheep ; the horns are, as its 

 common name indicates, of enormous size, and make a curve that is more 

 than a complete circle. The head and horns often weigh sixty pounds. 

 Its coat is thick with short grayish hair, changing in the fall into dun, 

 and the hair becoming more than an inch long, and rather wiry. In 

 winter the coat is increased by a layer of exceedingly fine wool which, 

 though sometimes three inches long, never shows outside the hair, but 

 lies curled up close to the skin. 



