52 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



inferior in size, do not differ noticeably in colour 

 from the rams. 



Dr. J. U. Duerst' believes that there is a second 

 species of mouflon, common to Sardinia and Corsica, 

 for which he has proposed the name Ovis mat- 

 schiei. Compared with what its describer regards 

 as typical mouflon, it is stated to be more brownish 

 grey, tending to ashy grey, in colour, sometimes 

 with a white-spotted face ; the dark-brown horns 

 forming curves of which the tips are directed strongly 

 outwards. The claim of this so-called species to 

 distinction is, however, extremely doubtful ; and it 

 certainly does not constitute more than a local 

 race of O. musimon. 



Half a century ago the mouflon was abundant 

 in the eastern districts of Sicily, more especially on 

 Monte Lerrone, in Patada, and, in a somewhat less 

 degree, in the neighbourhood of Budoso and Nuoro. 

 There was an isolated colony on the mountains of 

 Argentiera, in Nurra, and a second in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Iglesias and Teulada. It is still to 

 be found in more or less abundance in several parts 

 of the island, as it is also in the mountains of 

 the interior of Corsica. 



When Dr. Fitzinger wrote the first part of his 

 review of the breeds of tame sheep," he stated that 



* In M. Wilckens' Grundzuge der Naturgeschichte der Haustiere, 

 2nd ed., pp. 177 and 180, Leipsic, 1905. 



» Sitzber. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. xxxviii. p, 150, 1859. 



