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THE GREAT TIBETAN SHEEP OR NYAN. 
Ovis Hodgsoni. Native names: Nyan (male), Nyan mo ('female's Ladak ; 
Nyang, Hyan , Tibetan. Erroneously called the “Ammon ” by sportsmen. 
Habitat. —Tibet, Ladak and Sikhim. It is not found south of the main 
Himalayan axis. In winter it may descend to 12,000 ft., in summer it seldom 
ranges below 15,000 ft. 
Period of gestation .—Doubtful, probably about seven months; the young 
are born about May or June. 
Description. —Coarse, short, and very close hair, ears and tail short; a white 
ruff in adult males ; a dark crest of hair along the back and withers. Horns of 
the male very massive, coarsely wrinkled, triangular in section, with rounded 
edges ; the curve is spiral with the tips turned slightly upwards, and the curve 
of each horn rather less than a complete circle. Female horns short, erect, thin 
towards the end, curved backwards and outwards. The colour is greyish brown 
above, paler and whitish below. In males the rump, throat, chest, belly and 
insides of the legs are white, and old males are grizzled on the back. Females are 
maneless, the caudal disc is indistinct, and the white is less pure. The coat is 
paler in winter than in summer. 
The Nyan is the largest known sheep and the most wary of all animals. 
Every sense is abnormally accute, it is very speedy and, haunting open ground, 
is exceedingly difficult to stalk and shoot. 
