146 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



forehead, with a backward curvature. In certain 

 cases the horns are somewhat larger in old rams 

 (pi. X. fig. 2), with their tips directed outwards, 

 although still preserving the compressed, and there- 

 fore somewhat goat-like character. In the ewes 

 the horns are very small and goat-like ; occasionally 

 they are absent. The fleece, which is thick and 

 short, varies in colour from silvery white through 

 iron-grey and dark brown to black ; the dark 

 phases frequently showing a white blaze on the 

 forehead, and white patches on the tail and legs. 

 The skull has a large parietal portion behind the 

 horns ; and the horn-cores present an elliptical 

 section, with a convex external and a nearly flat 

 inner surface. 



Professor Tarnuzzer, in a German serial to 

 which I have unfortunately mislaid the reference, 

 states that, in addition to the Nalpser sheep, there 

 is an allied breed in the Oberland known as the 

 Valser Schaf, or Wallis sheep. And he further 

 observes that in Vindonissa he has discovered 

 bones indicating the survival of the true turbary 

 sheep to classic Roman times. 



Dr. Keller ^ believes the turbary sheep, and con- 

 sequently the modern Nalpser and Wallis breeds, 

 to be derived from the North African arui or udad 

 {^Ammotragus lervia) ; but this opinion has been 



^ C. Keller, " Die Abstammung des Biindnerschafer und 

 Torfschafes," Act. Soc. Helvet., vol. Ixxxiii. pp. 86-98, 1907. 



