262 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



one forms a regular right-handed spiral. Both the 

 front angles of the horns are also strongly developed, 

 so that the front surface is flattened, or even con- 

 cave. The ewes likewise carry small, upright 

 horns. Speaking generally, it may be said that the 

 urial is a less brightly coloured animal than the red 

 sheep, with an abundant throat-ruff, largely com- 

 posed in most cases of white hairs in the winter 

 coat of old rams, but often no distinct dark flank- 

 band dividing the fawn of the back and flanks from 

 the white of the under-parts, and no conspicuous 

 white saddle-patch in the same dress. 



The colour of the urial as a whole, that is to say 

 inclusive of all the local races then known, was 

 described by Dr. W. T. Blanford * as follows : — 



"Above in summer rufous grey or fawn, in 

 winter light greyish brown ; lower-parts, limbs, 

 buttocks, and tail whitish or white ; ruff sometimes 

 black throughout, but generally with some white 

 hairs and in old rams white in front, gradually pass- 

 ing into black behind. Muzzle in old animals whitish 

 or white. A patch behind the shoulder black or 

 blackish, sometimes a blackish lateral line and mark- 

 ings outside the limbs. Females and young males 

 are almost uniform greyish brown, paler beneath. 



" Height of a male 32 inches, length 48, tail 4. 

 Some Ladak specimens are larger and are said to 

 be 3 feet or more in height." 



' Fauna of British India — Mammalia, p. 498. 



