absolutely greater than in specimens of O. poli karelim, with horns of
greater length.
Distribution.—-The Sair, or Saiar Mountains, situated in the Great Altai
on the north-western border of Mongdfta, nearly due east o f a point midway
between the Semipalatinsk and the Semirechinsk Alt-ai, in latitude
Fig. 36.—Littledale’s Sheep. From the type specimen in the British Museum.
86° E. longitude 47° N. Also at Semitau, north of the Jair, or Jaiar
Mountains,1 lying in latitude 84° E. andS.flpngitude 46° N. The distributional
area therefore lies a little « t h e eastward of the line approximately
dividing the habitat of 0. ammon typica from that o f O. poli karelini, and
impinging on the eastern boundaries of both.
Comparisons.—This sheep is typified by three specimens (Nos. go,'4,
3 °, 3-5) in the summer pelage presented to the British Museum by Mr. St.
1 Marked in Map 77 (F. 1) of the Times Atlas:.
George Littledale, whiHshdlithem in the Sair Mountains. They include an
adult and an immature male and an adult female, the first of which may be
taken as the actual type. It is, moreover, most probable that a skull (No.
91, 6 ,17 , 1) presented to the Museum by the same gentleman, and obtained
from Semitau, ngrthgjf the Jair Mountains, belongs to the same form.
That this sheep is distinct from all the three races of O. ammon referred
to above seems to be beyond A u b t. It clearly appears to be equally
distinct B om the typical race .of O. poli, of which specimens in summer
dues! are available for comparison in the British Museum ; while Severtzoff’s
plate Sow s- the winter coat, which iSj?alm|§|t identical with that of poll
karelim. So far as can be determined from comparison with specimens
of 0. poli karelim in wintgs dress, there seems alsSgood evidence of
distinctness from that form, although in the matter of coloration it comes
nearer to that animal than any other ; both showing Bm e brown on the
upper part of the face and'a dark streak down the back of the female. I
cannot, however, think that O. poli karelini in its summer dress would have
the dark under-parts and rump of the present form, while it certainly has
not horgSof the same massive type, and is altogether « la r g e r bodily size.
Moreover, i f poli karelini became thus dark in summer, it would differ SO
much from poli typica sk, to be entitled to specific distinction. As already
Said, the horns are stouter than in O. poli karelini. As I cannot identify it
with eitherBf the insufficiently described sheep named by Severtzoff, and
fail to See that it limes decidedly closer to 0 . ammon than to 0 . poll, I am
fain, at least pBvisionally, to regard it as representing a separate species.
The summer coat of the adult male differs broadly fiom that of both
ammon and poli typica by its darker colour, and more especially by the
absence of a white caudal disk and by the dark under-part® From poli
typim it is further distinguished by the dark outer surface of the thighs 4
while the females of both ammon and poli typica lack the broad, blackish
dorsalBltripe characterising that.sex in the present form.