DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF ARGALI SHEEP 143 



but in the forenoon go to rest one after another often on the 

 very grazing-ground. The youngsters are more nervous and 

 often break the rest with grazing, or they take to attacking 

 each other in boisterous play, which sometimes ends in a 

 regular fight. On warm, calm days they choose a resting 

 place high up on the slopes; when the wind is strong and 

 cold, further down or even on the bottom of the valley. 



During my visit here in the autumn ot 1920 along stormy 

 period occurred during which it was useless to seek the sheep 

 on the windy slopes, they were all on the leeside of the hills 

 or down in the valley. 



When they were alarmed they seldom ran straight 

 up the slopes but cho<se often a slanting direction, without 

 great hurry; they often stopped and gazed at the intruder. 

 The crest was generally passed at the lowest place. When 

 once their habits are learned, the hunt becomes tolerably 

 easy. Yet one must be a good walker and climber be- 

 cause of the vast distances; large areas must often be 

 searched before the prey is found. I found it a good scheme 

 to place myself somewhere on the crest above the resting 

 place of the sheep, after I had sent a man round to rouse 

 them from the opposite side. When they tried to escape 

 over the crest the sportsman generally got a chance. 



It is a good thing to let the man not approach them 

 point-blank, but walk as if he intended to pass them without 

 taking notice. Instead of immediately disappearing in 

 wild flight, the sheep will then slowly retire up the slope 

 with their attention riveted on the intruder. The hunter 

 up on top thus gets his opportunity. 



That they are very easy to distract, I noticed one day 

 when returning from the highlands. Just when the sun began 

 to set behind the ridges, I entered one of those deep, rocky 

 valleys which run out to the plain. While I was walking here 

 in the middle of the valley bottom I perceived suddenly 

 some dim figures moving towards me at a distance of 500- 

 600 yards. They continued in my direction and when we were 

 300 "yards off, they stopped hesitatingly; I could see that it 

 was three venerable old rams with splendid horns. I got the 

 idea to imitate the sound of a ram, when angry while I still 

 proceeded on my way. The animals now deviated slightly 

 but continued along the slope while I walked on still bleat- 

 in" When we at last passed each other at 100 yards dis- 

 tance, I stopped suddenly, aimed quickly at the largest one, 

 pulled the trigger and lo ! I had the satisfaction to seehim 

 roll down the slope. The two others disappeared quickly 

 into one of the side-gulleys. This method I repeated after- 



