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Show 518 SIR VICTOR BROOKE AND MR. B. BROOKE [June 15, *-*** This species is, like Ovis heinsi, only known from skulls; amongst these is one of an adult male. Through a telescope I saw that the colour of the animal is light greyish brown, with a white belly and rump. It is considerably smaller than Ovis karelini" indeed it is " one of the smallest and weakest of all the Central- Asiatic Sheep." Bange.-" This species inhabits the entire Karatau, with the exception of a few localities. It is abundant on the summits of the . Buguni, on the rocks near Marnin-sas, and on the western portions of the Teranisk hills, where the numerous steep rocks and clefts near Boroldai afford them excellent security. They also occur on the summits of the Chayan Mountains ; further to the west I met with the species on the rocks of the Turlansky-pereval; and, according to the statements of the people there, they are abundant also on the Min-Dielki, the highest point in the Karatau, where they ascend as high as 7000 feet. To the north-westward they are found all over the Karatau, and even at their feet, where the steppes commence, namely on the Kara-Murun hills, which are not more than 1000 feet above the level of the steppe, or 1500 feet above the sea-level." Habits.-" Ovis nigrimontana keeps in very small flocks consisting of three or four individuals ; they are found also sometimes single." Mr. Severtzoff attributes this to the rocky nature of the ground to which the animals have been driven by the wandering tribes of the Kirgees. Part of Mr. Severtzoff's Table of Measurements of the Wild Sheep of Turkestan. Length from nose to tail ,. Height at the shoulder Length of horn ,. Distance between tips of ) horns ,.., J Width of temple side of'1 horn (orbital surface)... J Width of nape side (nuchal I surface) J Length of skull Ovis poli, adult o*. in. lin. 79 0 46 0 57 0 42 0 6 0 14 0 O. karelini} O. heinsi, adult 3 • ! 5-years o* • in. lin. 71 0 42 6 44 0 32 0 5 4 IS 3 in. lin. 33 31 4 2 11 4 O. nigrimontana, adult 3- in. lin. 57 0 34 0 38 0 29 6 4 0 10 8 The height and length of Ovis nigrimontana has been calculated from the size of the skull, W e will now give descriptions of the Asiatic Argali not found in Turkestan, Ovis AMMON. 1766, Capra ammon, Linn. Syst. Nat. edit. xii. p. 97, |