232 
UNGULATES. 
Affinities. 
Habits. 
while in a north and south direction it embraces the area lying between the main 
axis of the Himalaya (or a few of the higher ranges to the south) and the Kuen- 
Lun and Altyn Tagh ranges. 
Structurally the bharal is as much a goat as a sheep, but in the 
absence of a beard and of a strong odour in the rams, as well as in 
general appearance, it is more like a sheep, and is consecpiently placed in the same 
genus. It exhibits, however, a marked difference from other species of the same 
general size in refusing to breed with domestic sheep; and its relationship to the 
goats is so strong that, were it not for convenience, there are considerable grounds 
for including both sheep and goats in a single genus. 
In conformity with its structure, the bharal, as Mr. Blanford 
remarks, is intermediate in its habits between the sheep and the 
goats. Like the former it is found on undulating ground, and frequently lies down 
during the day on its feeding-ground, though generally amongst stones; but, like 
the latter, it is a splendid climber, perfectly at home on precipitous cliffs, and wont, 
when alarmed, to take refuge in ground inaccessible to man. It is found in herds 
of from eight or ten to fifty or even a hundred; the males and females being 
generally found apart in the summer, but frequently associating together at all 
seasons. The herds keep to high open ground above forest and never even enter 
bush. They feed and rest alternately during the day. Owing to their colour it is 
peculiarly difficult to make them out when they are lying down amongst stones.” 
It appears that these animals are never found below an elevation of ten thousand 
feet above the sea-level, while in summer they range up to fourteen thousand and 
sixteen thousand feet. Bharal are by no means difficult of approach in districts 
where they have not been much disturbed, and on one occasion in Ladak the 
present writer came suddenly upon a flock of five rams lying asleep in an un¬ 
frequented path. They are generally well represented in the Gardens of the 
London Zoological Society, where they have bred freely. 
The Barb ary Sheep (Ovis tragelaphus). 
The Barbary, or maned sheep, which is the only wild representative of the 
group met with in Africa, while agreeing with the bharal in the general character 
of its horns and skull, is distinguished by the great mass of long hair clothing the 
throat, chest, and fore-limbs, and likewise by the great length of the thickly- 
haired tail, which reaches slightly below the hocks. Although commonly referred 
to in works of natural history under the name of aoudad, it does not appear that 
this title is recognised by the inhabitants of its native country, to whom this sheep 
is known as the arui. 
The Barbary sheep attains a height of rather over 3 feet, and is of a nearly 
uniform pale rufous yellow colour, with the individual hairs differently coloured in 
different parts of their lengths. The females are distinguished from the males by 
the much shorter hair on the fore-quarters, but have horns nearly or quite 
so long. The horns do not generally exceed 25 inches in length, but may reach 
26 or a little more, and although finely wrinkled in the young are nearly 
smooth in the adult. 
