THE HORNED ANIMALS—SHEEP. 



461 



We see in the writings of old-time authors that 

 these wild Sheep were formerly found in great 

 numbers. Sometimes from four to five hundred were 

 slain in one single great hunt; nowadays huntsmen 

 are satisfied if they succeed in killing or capturing 

 several of them; on hunting expeditions which are 

 organized at great expense, and with much attention 

 to completeness of equipment, it very rarely happens 

 that one or two score of the animals are bagged. 



r/ie Moufflon one The Moufflon belongs among the 

 fif the Smallest of smaller species of wild Sheep, 



the Wild Sheep. though its length may amount to 

 fifty inches, inclusive of the tail, which at.most meas- 

 ures four inches; the height at the withers is twenty- 

 eight inches and the weight ranges between eighty 

 and one hundred pounds. The horns, measured 

 along their line of curvature, are about twenty-six 

 inches long and weigh from eight to twelve pounds. 

 The structure of the body has the sturdy character 

 common to all wild Sheep. There is a dark brown 



on the discovery of some suspicious object give a 

 note of alarm which arouses their companions, upon 

 which the whole party instantly takes refuge in 

 flight. At certain seasons the herds separate into 

 smaller troops, each band consisting of one ram and 

 several evires, which the brave ram has attracted by 

 his exhibition of prowess during a prolonged series 

 of fierce fights. During the months of December 

 and January the passer-by may hear, echoing through 

 the mountains, the noise which the horns produce 

 in clashing against each other, and if he cautiously 

 and quietly follows the guidance of the sound he 

 may see the strong rams of the herd take opposing 

 positions and then charge against each other with 

 such violence that it is almost incomprehensible how 

 the fighters can retain their places on the ground. 

 Young Moufflons In April or May one or two young 

 and Their Char- ones make their appearance. After 

 acteristics. ^ fg^ j^ys they follow their mother 

 about on the most dangerous break-neck paths with 



THE KKATSCHKAB OB WILD SHEEP OF TUBKESTAN Interest ng because t s by many authorities conjectured to be the ancestor 



of o„i i,«mniw* Sheep is mus uuimcii, uvuig in TuiKcsLim, wiicic ii» ictugc io i^uiifiiicd iu tiic Prtmii piALcau, where it breeds by thousands. It climbs the 

 highest ridges, which it prefers to the valleys, and is a magnificent animal, with horns only less prominent than those of our American Big Horn. It was 

 first made known to Europeans in the thirteenth century by the famous Venetian traveler, Marco Polo, from whom it derives its scientific name. (Ovis 

 polii.) 



line along the cdufae of the spinal column, while 

 the prevailing color is a foxy red, dashed with ashy 

 gray on the head and merging into white on the 

 muzzle, the croup, the sides of the tail, the ends of 

 the feet, and the abdominal surface. The horns of 

 the ram are strong, long, very thick at the base and 

 trianbfular in their cross-section. The ewe is per- 

 ceptibly smaller, and is easily distinguished from 

 the ram by het more subdued color, and the horns, 

 as a rule, are absent or occur only in rare cases. 

 Th6 Moufflon a In contradistinction to the Aoudad 

 Gregarious the Moufflon lives in herds, the guid- 

 Animal. ^nce of which devolves on some 

 strong -adult ram. These herds, select the loftiest 

 mountain-peaks for their haunts, establishing their 

 quarters on steep and more or less inaccessible prec- 

 ipices. As is the habit of other gregarious Rumi- 

 Jiahts, a few individuals keep a careful lookout, and 



apparently the utmost security and soon match her 

 in all her accomplishments. 



The Moufflon is lively in its movements, agile, 

 quick and sure-footed; but not capable of enduring 

 continued exertion, at least on level ground. Climb- 

 ing is its specialty. Cetti says that it is very timor- 

 ous and trembles with fear on hearing the slightest 

 unusual noise, taking refuge in flight as quickly as 

 possible. 



Men have recourse to various means 

 to enable them to obtain this valua- 

 ble quarry. It is said that sometimes 

 attracted by sportsmen concealed in 

 the bush imitating the bleating of the Sheep, but 

 the usual mode of hunting is to shoot with a rifle, 

 though it rarely gives favorable results. 



Strong, fully developed Moufflons are probably 

 never caught, and young ones can be captured only 



Metho()s of 



Hunting the 



Moufflon. 



rams may be 



