184 7- J On Various Genera of the Ruminants. 701 



Horns in both sexes. 



No mufle. 



Eye-pits large but immobile. 



Feet-pits small but present in all four extremities. 

 Inguinal glands distinct. Pores vaguely denned. 



Calcic tufts and glands none. 



Mammse two. 



No odour in males. 



Types, Ovis Ammon or the Argali of Siberia, and Ovis Ammonoides 

 or the Argali of Tibet. 



Habitat the snowy barriers of high Asia, Ammon being confined to 

 the remoter, and Ammonoides to the nearer ranges. These animals 

 are further distinguished as a group by angular, compressed, heavily 

 wrinkled horns turned almost into a perfect circle, and their flat points 

 directed forwards and outwards ; by very short disced tails ; and by 

 the absence of beard. The wild Sheep proper, or Nyens of the 

 Tibetans, never mix with the Nahoors. They are far more hardy, 

 active and independant than any tame breeds of their kind, as may 

 well be supposed from their terrific abode amid the snowy peaks of 

 Hemachal. They are gregarious, feed in the glens, seek refuge on the 

 tops, and leap and run with Deer-like power, though as climbers inferior 

 to the Hemitrages, and as leapers to the Musks. They are often 

 snowed up for days without perishing, unless their breathing holes 

 should betray them to man, a more terrible foe, than the direst incle- 

 mency of the seasons ! They rut in winter, breed in early summer and 

 gestate it is said, 6 months, probably not above 160 days. The Nyens 

 or Ban Bheras (that is, wild sheep) seldom or never cross the Hema- 

 chal, the Indian side of which range is the special habitat of the 

 Nahoors, while to the North and West beyond Tibet, our animals 

 are replaced by other species ; so that Tibet may be considered as 

 the special habitat of one species and the plateaux North of Tibet 

 as far as the Altai, as that of the other species, above cited as types 

 of the true ovine form ; and it may here be added that the six sorts of 

 tame sheep of Tibet and the Sub-Himalayas, all, without exception, 

 exhibit the essential characters of that form. 



