DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF ARGALI SHEEP 139 



Central Asia if we contemplate the location of the various 

 sheep grounds, the conclusion is self-evident, that these 

 regions more or less border on or are situated in the great 

 desert — or plateaux — areas. 



In other words, we may say that the ranges inhabited 

 by Argali form a more or less complete frame round those 

 territories. The possible explanation of this so-tc-say perife- 

 rical arrangement is a question to which I shall recur 

 later. 



General nature of grazing grounds and the 

 habits of Wild Sheep. 



0. ammon. 



Ovis ammon typica live as a rule at comparatively low 

 altitudes, 6,000-9,000 ft. perhaps even lower down, depend- 

 ing on the grazing possibilities. During the hot season they 

 seek higher, grassy plateaux, but during the winter they are 

 met with in the more sheltered foothills. 



The abundantly grass-covered, plateaux-like regions 

 which are traversed by broad valleys seem to be their favou- 

 rite haunts. But it must be remembered that with regard 

 to the distribution of O. ammon typica as well as of the other 

 Argali sheep, the steady progress of cultivation of these 

 grounds is the probable reason of the decrease in their num- 

 bers, as well as the diminution of their distribution areas. 

 I quote from Carruthers work, p. 345. 



"Great numbers are yearly driven over to the Chinese 

 side by the steadily advancing Eussian settlers. This forces 

 them to seek new grazing grounds year after year; so the 

 game is slowly but surely driven up in the higher and less 

 accessible regions. The contraction of their grazing grounds 

 is the chief cause of the steady decrease in the number of 

 the Wild Sheep of Central Asia." 



On page 330 of the same work a description of the 

 habits and favourite grounds of O. ammon is given thus: 



"Wild Sheep generally spend several hours during the 

 middle of the day, especially during the hot summer months, 

 in lying down in one of those unapproachable positions, 

 which the hunter learns to know only too we'll. 



"A very favourite site is on a shale-slope, which harmo- 

 nizes perfectly with their own colours, near the crest of 

 some commanding, round-topped hill, though not actually 

 on the top for that would advertise their position to their 

 enemies. The wind curling over the crest to them, secures 



