256 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



under-parts is, however, divided from the rufous of 

 the body by a broad blackish band, and a spinal 

 stripe on the withers, the tip of the upper side of the 

 tail, a broad streak on the chest, the part of the 

 fore-legs above the knees, and a patch on the thighs 

 are likewise blackish or black. The outer side of 

 the ears is grey. 



In the winter coat (pi. xix. fig. 2) the development 

 of a short dark throat-ruff obliterates the white in 

 this region ; but, as if in compensation, a con- 

 spicuous whitish saddle-patch makes its appearance, 

 at any rate in rams of the age of the one re- 

 presented in the plate. The general colour of the 

 coat is also browner. At all ages the direction 

 of the horns is mainly backwards, and but slightly 

 downwards. Horns of 24 inches are good. 



Of the mainland races of the species, which are 

 all larger than the Cyprian, the one making the 

 nearest approach to the latter appears to be that of 

 the Cilician Taurus, at the extreme southern base 

 of the peninsula of Asia Minor, and thus nearest to 

 Cyprus. Judging by the heads of three rams shot 

 in this range by Mr. Haig Thomas in 1909, these 

 sheep resemble the Cyprian race in the large extent 

 and purity of the white area on the muzzle, chin, 

 and throat of the summer coat. 



In the Armenian race, O. orientalis gmelini, 

 which stands as much as 33 inches and may have 

 horns exceeding 40 inches in length, the direction of 



