THE 
SHEEP. 
HISTORY. 
Naturalists have sought for the origin of the Domestic Sheep in various wild species of the genus Ovis. Those which are 
supposed to have given origin to the subdued races of Asia and Europe, are the Argali or Wild Sheep of Asia, and the Musmon 
of the south of Europe ; while the origin of the sheep of Africa has been sought for in allied species proper to that Continent. 
The A rgali or Wild Sheep of Asia, possessing the generic characters of the Sheep, is somewhat less than the size of a stag. 
He has enormous horns, measuring more than a foot in circumference at the base, and from three to four feet in length, triangular, 
rising from the summit of the head so as nearly to touch at the root, ascending, stretching out laterally, and bending forward at 
the point. He has a fur of short hair, covering a coat of soft white wool. The colour of the fur externally is brown, becoming 
brownish-grey in winter : there is a buff-coloured streak along the back, and a large spot of a lighter buff colour on the haunch, 
surrounding and including the tail. The female differs from the male in being smaller, in having the horns more slender and 
straight, and in the absence of the disc on the haunch. In both sexes the tail is very short, the eye-lashes are whitish, and the 
hair beneath the throat is longer than on other parts of the body. 
These creatures inhabit the mountains and elevated plains of Asia, from the Caucasus northward and eastward to Kamschatka 
and the Ocean. They are agile and strong, but very timid, shunning the least appearance of danger; their motion is zigzag, 
and they stop in their course to gaze upon their pursuer, after the manner of the Domestic Sheep. They are usually found in 
very small flocks, and at the rutting season the males fight desperately, using their horns and forehead m the manner of the 
common ram. They are hunted by the people of the countries for their flesh, which is esteemed to be savoury, and for then- 
skins, which are made into clothing. In autumn, after having pastured during the summer on the mountains and secluded valleys, 
they are fat, and in high request; hut as winter advances, and they are forced to descend from the mountains m search of food, 
they lose their plumpness, and are sought after only for their skins. When taken young they are easily tamed, but the old ones 
never resign their natural wildness. 
Allied to this species, or identical with it, is the Rocky Mountain Sheep, or Argali of America. This creature inhabits the 
loftiest mountain chains of North America. It is described by Spanish writers as the Sheep of California, and is familiar to the 
Indians and fur traders of Canada. It surpasses the Asiatic Argali in size, and is consequently taller than the largest of our 
domestic Sheep. Its horns are very large, approaching, but not touching, one another at the base. The horns of the female are 
small, and slightly curved. The fur is of a reddish-brown colour, but becomes paler in winter, and in spring the old rams are 
nearly white. The face and nose are white, and the tail and buttocks present the buff-coloured disc which distinguishes the male 
of the Asiatic species. They collect in flocks, under the guidance of a leader. They pasture on the steepest parts of the 
mountains, and on the approach of winter descend into the plains. They are wild and timid, betaking themselves on the least 
alarm to the summits of the mountains. They are pursued and killed by the Indians for their flesh and skins, and have never 
been subjected to domestication. 
The Musmon still inhabits the Islands of Crete and Cyprus, and the mountains of Greece. It is found in Corsica and Sar¬ 
dinia, where it is familiar to the mountaineers of the interior. It formerly abounded in Spain, and even yet is said to be seen in 
the mountains of Murcia. 
The Musmon is smaller than the Argali. In the male the horns are two feet in length ; in the female they are often want- 
ino-. They are very thick, and they turn inward at the points, in which respect they differ from the horns of the Argali, which 
bend outward. The fur consists of a brownish hair, concealing a short fine grey-coloured wool, which covers all the body. 
The Musmons resemble the Argalis in several characters, but they are less powerful and hardy, and inhabit a lower range 
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