134 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF ARGALI SHEEP 



Francis Younghusband that we are indebted for by far the 

 most interesting information on this subject. In his re- 

 markable journey of 1887 across the Gobi, from Peking to 

 Hami, he struck the Great Altai at its most easterly extre- 

 mity in longitude 100° East. He estimated the height of 

 the range, even at its terminal portion, as 9,000 ft. above 

 the sea-level, and the natives reported grassy plateaux in 

 the centre. 



These two combinations sound suitable for O. ammon. 

 Though Sir Francis did not visit these high plateaux, where 

 the sheep would be at that season (July), yet on the outlying 

 southern foothills horns were to be found lying on the ground 

 which, from their great girth of 19 inches and general shape, 

 undoubtedly belonged to "Ovis ammon typica. " 



Ovis commosa (formerly O. jubata). 



Ovis Commosa. 

 Ta Tsing Shan. North China. 



This North China or S. Mongolian race was first 

 discovered in the mountains North of Peking and was first 

 described by Peters in 1876. 



Since that time it has not been found in the Peking 

 hills but was again discovered in the frontier range Ta Tsing 

 Shan between Suiyuan and Mongolia sometime in the begin- 

 ning of this century. 30 



Though, as just stated, these Argali were first described 

 by Peters in 1876, yet it was Przhevalsky, who, during his 

 journey from Kalgan to Kukuchoto (Kuei-Hua-T'ing) in 



30 A. de C. Sowerby, Fur and Feather in N. China, p. 17. 



