DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF ARGALI SHEEP 137 



barren ranges. Except by wild sheep its few, small and 

 scattered oases are only inhabited by hare, antelopes and 

 wild camels. 36 Whether the Argali of Kurruk-Tagh belong 

 to the species "carelini" or some of the following varieties 

 it is impossible to ascertain. Dr. Hedin only states the 

 presence of wild sheep but does not mention the species. 



Ovis littledalei. 



This other variety of the Tian-Shan wild sheep occurs 

 strangely enough right inside the area inhabited by O. 

 carelini. They are to be found on the divide between the 

 Manas and the Yuldus, where they occupy, territory of the 

 same nature as the grounds of "carelini" and in almost equal 

 numbers. 37 



Tian Shan seems to harbour yet another variety which 

 also occurs on the Yuldus. In Carruthers Unknown Mon- 

 golia we find the following statement: 



Besides "littledalei," it will probably be proved that 

 a third, not yet named variety inhabits this region (West 

 Yuldus). This third variety which is as yet imperfectly 

 known, is evidently much more rare than the two others. 

 It approximates to 0. hodgsoni, its main characteristic being 

 massive horns of short length and narrow spread. 38 



Ovis sairensis. 



This race was first discovered by Mr. St. George Little - 

 dale, who found them in the Sair or Jair mountains at the 

 eastern end of Tarbagatai. They occur also south-east of Lake 

 Zaisan ; southwards they extend through Urkashar and other 

 smaller ranges as far as the Maili-Barlik massif. This re- 

 presents their eastern limit. How far their distribution 

 extends westwards along Tarbagatai seems to be imperfectly 

 known. 



Wild Sheep occur in the low mountains north of 

 Balkash but whether these are "sairensis" or O. nigrimon- 

 tana (which has been stated to exist here) is still an open 

 question. 39 



General manner of distribution. 



To summarize in a preliminary way the facts as stated 

 above we should make use of the adjoining sketch-map of 



36 Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Eddition Vol. VI, page 166. 



37 Carruthers Unknown Mongolia, Vol. II, page 570. 



38 Carruthers Unknown Mongolia, Vol. II, pages 570-571. 



39 Carruthers Unknown Mongolia, Vol. II, pages 548-549. 



