150 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OF ARGALI SHEEP 



Measures of horns tabulated in Lydekker's : Wild 

 Oxen, etc., vary thus: length between 42£ ins. and 

 50| ins., girth 16£ ins. to 19^ ins., distance between tips 

 19 ins. to 23 ins. These were record dimensions as far back 

 as 1896 and much larger measures ha,ve been obtained since 

 that time. A. de C. Sowerby gives the following record 

 measures, length 75 ins., girth 18f ins, which as regards 

 length seems to be a colossal size for this race of Argali. 43 



The horns of males are generally somewhat less massive 

 and forming a less open spiral, which does not exceed one 

 complete circle and is usually less ; their tips almost invariably 

 broken, the wrinkles apparently slightly less prominent and 

 the outer front angle' frequently distinct. 44 



A. de C. Sowerby says about the horns. 45 The horns 

 grow abruptly back, their ends coming flush with the 

 animals nose, so that they have to. be kept worn down in 

 order that their bearer may eat. On this account long 

 horns are the exception. 



Ovis poli. 

 The Pamir race. 



Characters : The size of adult males is slightly less 

 than 0. amnion and the build perhaps rather lighter (Lydek- 

 ker). 



General colour of upper parts of adult male in summer 

 light speckled brown; most or all of face, throat, chest, 

 under parts, buttocks and legs white, the white extending 

 largely on to the outer surface of the thighs ; a black streak 

 from the nape to the withers ; no distinct ruff on the throat. 



In winter the hair is considerably longer, and forming 

 a well marked white ruff on the throat and chest, and a 

 darkish line of somewhat elongated hair extending from the 

 nape to the withers ; the upper parts showing a more or less 

 rufescent tinge, especially towards the border of the dark 

 area. 



In females the neck is brown in front in the winter 

 pelage; while in the summer coat there is typically no 

 blackish stripe extending from the head to the root of the 

 tail, although this is present at least in the winter coat of 

 the second race (0. carelini). 



43 A. de C. Sowerby : Fur and Feather in N. China, p. 18. 



44 Lydekker. 



45 Sowerby. 



