26o THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



1 910 as Ovis orientalis isphahanica, but was sub- 

 sequently renamed O. urmiana isphahanica} As 

 the description is in Russian, I am unable to give 

 the characteristics of this race. 



In this place reference may be made to a sheep 

 from the Laristan district of South-eastern Persia 

 for which Dr. Nasonov proposed the name Ovis 

 laristanica in 1909, following this with an illustrated 

 description in his memoir of 191 1.^ Of this descrip- 

 tion I am enabled, through Dr. Nasonov's courtesy, 

 to give a free translation. 



In the winter coat the crown of the head, fore- 

 head, and muzzle are blackish ; a black streak runs 

 from the eye to the mouth, below which is a 

 narrower one of grey ; the occiput is brownish yellow, 

 and the outer side of the ears is dark grey. A 

 strong black ruff, with an admixture of brownish 

 yellow hairs in the middle, decorates the throat ; 

 and there is also long blackish hair on the neck, 

 extending on to the chest. The general colour of 

 the upper side of the body is dark brownish yellow ; 

 but a dark band extends across the shoulders, 

 behind, and parallel with this is a white band, and 

 in front a white patch, with mingled brownish hairs, 

 extending to the neck, thus forming a kind of 

 double saddle-patch. The dark of the upper-parts 

 is separated from the white of the belly by a 

 blackish flank-band ; the front and outer side of the 



' Nasonov, op, cit., p. 1290. ' Op. cit., p. 1295. 



