ARGALI. 



383 



Mouflon of BufFon, is of a darker colour than the 

 Asiatic kind. 



From the above description it will sufficiently 

 appear that the Wild Sheep is by no means that 

 seemingly helpless animal which we view in a 

 state of confinement and artificial life ; but in the 

 highest degree active and vigorous. It is sup- 

 posed to live about fourteen years. 



It is remarkable that Linnasus, in the twelfth 

 edition of the Systema Naturae, places this animal 

 in the genus Capra instead of Ovis ; appearing ra- 

 ther to consider it as the parent of the Goat than 

 the Sheep. In fact, these two genera are so closely 

 allied, that the line of separation is not very easily 

 discoverable. The present animal, however, whe- 

 ther we consider its figure or manners, seems ra- 

 ther to be the parent or stock of the Sheep than 

 the Goat race. 



VAR. ? 



Bearded Sheep. Pennant Qnadr, i.p. 52. pi. 9. 

 Tragelaphus seu Hirco-Cervus. Caii. opiisc. ^cj. 

 Siberian Goat. Fennant Synops. Quadr. p. 18. 



This animal seems rather a variety of the Ar- 

 gali than truly distinct. Its description and cha- 

 racter is thus given by Mr. Pennant, who in his 

 Synopsis of Quadrupeds referred to the genus 

 Capra. 



' ' Sheep with the hair on the lower part of the 

 cheeks and upper jaws extremely long, forming a 



