information that 0 . dalai-lamce is probably identical with the present
race.
Habits.— Although I have, seen large herds of ewes-and young rams
of the Tibetan race of this; species, I- have 'only once come across a full-
grown ram, and my notes on its habits must consequently be taken from
the writings of those who,;,dike General A. Kinloch, have enjoyed more
favourable opportunities for observation. I cap, however,. confirm the
Fig. 35.—Head of young male Tibetan Argali. (From Darrah’s Sport in the
Highlands o f Kashmir.)
testimony of others as to the magnificent appearance and carriage of the
adult rams, and I can even now recall the sight of the individual I beheld
standing on the top of a low pass in the Changchenmo district, of Ladak.
In the latter country during the winter these sheep inhabit the lower and
more protected valleys, where snow does not accumulate,, to any; great
depth ; but with the advent of summer the old ramftteparate from the
flocks to resort to more secluded situations at higher levelig According
to General Kinloch, these sheep .are very particular in their choicef„ca£.
locality, resorting year after year to the same spots, and entirely
neglecting other hills which apparently possess similar advantages with
regard to pasture and water. The .Open nature of the ground they
frequent renders the old rams exceedingly difficult to stalk, and even when
they resort to more broken ground, where the actual stalking is easier, their
extreme warinesmoften defeats the most carefully laid plans of the sportsman.
TheB-eeding-season is in December and January, when the flocks
are at a gjmparatively low elevation ; and the young are born about the
following May -or June.
■ 6 . L i t t l e d a l e ’ s S j e e e p— 0 ,v is s a i r e n s i s
Characters^ S i z e smaller than in either O. ammon or 0 . poli, the height
at the shoulder being about 3 feet 2 inches. Horns of adult male in some
rdfpects intermediate between those of the two species named, forming a
close: spiral | j rather more than a circle ; decidedly more massive than in
poli, with theTjiffnt angles rpunded off, and thus more like the typical
race .of ammon, although conifierablyijimaller ; those of immature males
distinctly angulated. General colour of the upper-parts of adult male in
summer pelage full rufous-broWn, becoming blackish-brown oil hinder part
of head, withers, loins, rump, tail, outer surface of thighs, and under-parts;
i>%ce, except muzzle, which is dirty white, gray-brown ; legs gradually
more and more speckled with white hairs, till from just above the knees
and hocks downwards they become white ; sides of head, neck, and throat
speckled brownish-gray, becorriing impure white in the middle of the chest.
Immature males nearly uniform rufous-brown throughout. Females rufous-
brown on thei|pper-parts, with a broad black streak extending from the
back of the head to the loins, and widening into a patch in the neighbourhood
of the withers ;||under-parts and * g s nearly white. In the adult
male the horns, of which the tips are broken, measure 46^ inches along
the front curve, with a ba"sal girth of about 15^ inches, and an interval
of 27 inches between' the tips. The basal girth ® the horns is
2 B