Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon Part 81

"The length of the biggest horn of male along the periphery of curve was 56 inches, and the greatest circ.u.mference of a horn of a male specimen at the base 18-1/2 inches.

"Mr. Blyth, the original describer of _Ovis Polii_, from its horns, was justified in expecting, from their enormous size, a correspondingly large-bodied animal; but in reality such does not appear to exist. Although the distance between the tips of the horns seems to be generally about equal to the length of the body, and although the horns are very much larger, but not thicker or equally ma.s.sive, with those of the _Ovis Ammon_ of the Himalayas, the body of the latter seems to be comparatively higher. Still it is possible that the _Ovis Polii_ of the Pamir may stand higher than the specimens described, which were obtained from the Tian Shan range.

"Large flocks of _Ovis Polii_ were observed on the undulating high plateau to the south of the Chadow-Kul, where gra.s.s vegetation is abundant. At the time the officers of the Mission visited this ground, i.e. in the beginning of January, it was the rutting season. The characters of the ground upon the Pamir and upon the part of the Tian Shan inhabited by these wild sheep are exactly similar."

The following remarks on the habits of this species are from Sir Victor Brooke's abstract of Servertzoft's description: "_Ovis Karelini_, like other sheep, does not live exclusively amongst the rocks, as is the case with the different species of _Capra_. It is not satisfied, like the latter, with small tufts of gra.s.s growing in the clefts of the rocks, but requires more extensive feeding grounds; it is, therefore, more easily driven from certain districts than is the case with _Capra_. In the neighbourhood of Kopal, for instance, the goats are abundant in the central parts of the steppes of Kara, whilst the sheep have been partially driven from these places, only visiting them in autumn.

"On the southern ranges of the Semiretchinsk Altai, in the vicinity of the river Ili, wherever good meadows and rocky places are found, _Ovis Karelini_ occurs at elevations of from 2000 to 3000 feet; at the sources of the rivers Lepsa, Sarkan, Kora, Karatala, and Koksa it goes as high as 10,000, and even to 12,000 feet in the neighbourhood of the Upper Narin. In winter it is found at much lower elevations."

In a paper by Captain H. Trotter, R.E., read before the Royal Geographical Society on the 13th of May, 1878, on the geographical results of the mission to Kashgar under Sir Douglas Forsyth ('Journal R. G. S.' vol. xlviii., 1878, p. 193), I find the following account refering to this sheep, there mentioned under the name of _Ovis Polii_: "For twenty-five miles above Chakmak the road continues gently ascending along the course of the frozen stream, pa.s.sing through volcanic rocks to Turgat Bela, a little short of which the nature of the country alters, and the precipitous hills are replaced by gently undulating gra.s.sy slopes, abounding with the _Ovis Polii_.[35]

"These extensive gra.s.sy slopes, somewhat resembling the English downs, are a very curious feature of the country, and not only attract the Kirghiz as grazing grounds for their cattle, but are equally sought after by the large herds of guljar, in one of which Dr.

Stoliczka counted no less than eighty-five."

[Footnote 35: _Ovis Heinsi_ and _Ovis nigromontana_ are doubtful species allied to the foregoing, and are not found within the limits a.s.signed to this work.]

The Chakmak and Turgat Bela spoken of are on the southern slopes of the Thian Shan mountains, which form the boundary between Russia and Eastern Turkestan, separating the provinces of Semiretchinsk and Kashghar. The Turgat pa.s.s, about 12,760 feet, lies between the Kashgharian fort of Chakmak and the Russian fort Naryn or Narin.

Captain Trotter mentions in a foot-note that these sheep, as well as ibex, abound in these hills in such large quant.i.ties that they form the princ.i.p.al food of the garrisons of the outposts. At Chakmak they saw a large shed piled up to the roof with the frozen carcases of these animals. (A most valuable map of the country is published in the 'Journal' with this paper.)

The chief difference between this species and _Ovis Polii_ consists in the much greater length and divergence of horns of the latter and the longer hair on the neck.

NO. 441. OVIS BROOKEI.

_Brooke's Wild Sheep_.

HABITAT.--Ladakh, or probably the Kuenluen range north of Ladakh.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Ovis Brookei_.]

DESCRIPTION.--This species is founded on a single specimen, which, in the opinion of Mr. Blyth, Mr. Edwin Ward, F.Z.S., Sir Victor Brooke and others, differed materially from all other wild sheep, but, as they had only a head to go upon, further investigation in this direction is necessary. It is not even certain where the animal was shot, but it is believed to have been obtained in the vicinity of Leh in Ladakh. It is apparently allied to the _O. Ammon_ of Thibet, which Sir Victor and Mr. B. Brooke term in their paper _O. Hodgsonii_, but it differs in its much smaller size, in its deeply sulcated horns, the angles of which are very much rounded, and the terminal curve but slightly developed. It differs also from _O. Vignei_ and _O.

Karelini_. The orbits project less, with greater width between them, the length of the molar teeth also exceeds the others. There are two wood-cuts of the skull and horns in the 'P. Z. S.' 1874, page 143, ill.u.s.trating Mr. Edwin Ward's paper on the subject.

The following are the dimensions of the specimen:--

Inches.

Length of skull 11 Smallest breadth between orbits 4-5/8 Length of horns, round curve 33-1/2 Circ.u.mference of horns 13-3/8

NO. 442. OVIS VIGNEI.

_Vigne's Wild Sheep_.

NATIVE NAMES.--_Sha_ or _Shapoo_.

HABITAT.--Little Thibet; Ladakh, from 12,000 to 14,000 feet.

DESCRIPTION.--General colour brownish-grey, beneath paler; belly white; a short beard of stiffish brown hair; the horns of the male are sub-triangular, rather compressed laterally and rounded posteriorly, deeply sulcated, curving outward and backward from the skull; points divergent. The female is beardless, with small horns.

The male horns run from 25 to 35 inches, but larger have been recorded.

This sheep was for some time, and is still by some, confounded with the oorial (_Ovis cycloceros_), but there are distinct differences, as will be seen further on, when I sum up the evidence. It inhabits the elevated ranges of Ladakh, and is found in Baltistan, where it is called the _oorin_.

NO. 443. OVIS CYCLOCEROS.

_The Punjab Wild Sheep_ (_Jerdon's No. 236_).

NATIVE NAMES.--_Oorial_ or _Ooria_, in the Punjab; _Koch_ or _Kuch_, in the Suleiman range.

HABITAT.--The Salt range of the Punjab; on the Suleiman range; the Hazarah hills; and the vicinity of Peshawar.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Ovis cycloceros_.]

DESCRIPTION.--General colour rufous brown; face livid, side of mouth and chin white; a long thick black beard mixed with white hairs from throat to breast, reaching to the knees; legs below knees and feet white; belly white, a blotch on the flanks; outside of legs and a lateral line blackish. The horns of the male are sub-triangular, much compressed laterally and posteriorly; in fact one may say concave at the sides, that is, from the base of the horn to about one half; transversely sulcated; curving outwards, and returning inward towards the face; points convergent. The female is more uniform pale brown, with whitish belly; no beard, and short straight horns.

SIZE.--About 5 feet in length, and 3 feet high; horns from 25 to 30 inches round the curve.[36] The marked distinctions between the two species may be thus briefly summed up:--

_Ovis Vignei_.

Horn rather compressed laterally.

Rounded posteriorly.

Curving outward and backward.

Points divergent.

General colour, brownish-grey.

Beard short, of stiffish brown hairs.

_Ovis cycloceros_.

Horn much compressed laterally.

Much compressed posteriorly.

Curving outward and inward.

Points convergent.

General colour, rufous brown, with blotch on flanks and lateral line blackish.

Beard profuse, reaching to knees, black intermixed with white hairs.

[Footnote 36: See also Appendix C.]

Mr. Sclater, with reference to the two in his paper on the Punjab Sheep living in the Zoological Society's Garden in 1860 ('P. Z. S.'

1860, page 126), says: "On comparing the skull (of _O. cycloceros_) with that of the shapoo we observe a general resemblance. But it may be noted that the sub-orbital pits in the present species are smaller, deeper, and more rounded; the nasal bones are considerably shorter and more pointed, and the series of molar teeth (formed in each skull of three premolars and three molars) measures only 2.85 instead of 3.20 inches in total length."

There is a fine coloured plate of this animal in that magnificent folio work--Wolf's 'Zoological Sketches,' showing the male, female, and lambs; and in that valuable book of Kinloch's, 'Large Game-shooting in Thibet and the North-west' is a very clear photograph of the oorial's head, from which I give the above sketch.

He gives the following account of its habits: "The oorial is found among low stony hills and ravines, which are generally more or less covered with thin jungle, consisting princ.i.p.ally of th.o.r.n.y bushes.

During the heat of the day the oorial conceal themselves a good deal, retiring to the most secluded places, but often coming down to feed in the evening on the crops surrounding the villages. Where not much disturbed, they will stay all day in the neighbourhood of their feeding grounds, and allow sheep and cattle to feed amongst them without concern; but where they have been much fired at they usually go a long distance before settling themselves for the day. They are generally found on capital ground for stalking, the chief drawback being the stony nature of the hills, which renders it difficult to walk silently. When fired at, oorial usually go leisurely away, stopping to gaze every now and then, so that several shots may often be fired at one herd."

Dr. Leith Adams says regarding it, that it "frequents bleak and barren mountains, composed of low ranges intersected by ravines and dry river courses, where vegetation is scanty at all seasons, and goats and sheep are seldom driven to pasture. It is found in small herds, and, being fond of salt, is generally most abundant in the neighbourhood of salt mines. Shy and watchful, it is difficult to approach, and possesses in an eminent degree the senses of sight and smell. It is seldom seen in the day-time, being secreted among rocks, whence it issues at dusk to feed in the fields and valleys, returning to its retreat at daybreak.

"When suddenly alarmed the males gives a loud shrill whistle, like the ibex. This is an invariable signal for the departure of the herd, which keeps moving all the rest of the day until dusk. Their bleat is like that of the tame species; and the males fight in the same way, but the form of the body and infra-orbital pits simulate the deer, hence it is often called the 'deer-sheep.' It equals the deer in speed and activity. The female gestates seven months. The rutting season is in September."

According to Captain Hutton the flesh is good and well-flavoured, "while the horns are placed as trophies of success and proofs of skill upon tombs and temples."

This sheep has bred in the Gardens of the Zoological Society in London.

(_See_ notes to _Oorial_ in Appendix C.)