50 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



would be accentuated if it were found to be accom- 

 panied by a difference in the curvature of the horns 

 of the rams. Were such a racial distinction estab- 

 lished, the next thing would be to ascertain whether 

 the Sardinian or the Corsican mouflon is the typical 

 Ovis musimon, a point which seems at present 

 uncertain. 



As regards the presence or absence of horns in 

 the ewes of Sardinian mouflon, Mr. Brooke states 

 that he never encountered horned females, and 

 similar testimony has been communicated to me 

 by Captain Bowring, R.N.^ On the other hand, 

 a horned ewe mouflon head, now in the Norwich 

 Castle Museum, shot in Corsica by Captain J. 

 Marriott about 1899, indicates that some at least of 

 the females in that island bear horns. 



Standing about 27 inches at the withers and 

 slightly more at the croup, the male mouflon has 

 limbs of medium length and strong and powerful 

 make, which terminate in short and sharp-edged 

 hoofs. The short and smooth-lying hairy coat, 

 which is underlain by a fine under-fur, is extra- 

 ordinary thick and close in winter, but becomes 

 somewhat thinner in summer. In colour it varies 

 considerably, according to age and the season of 

 the year. In the summer dress of adult rams the 

 neck, shoulders, back, flanks, and the outer surface 



* See a letter from Mr. E. P. Barnard in The Field of June 20, 

 1907. 



