with a little practice he soon became an invaluable assistant.
We stayed about three weeks in Yulduz, hunting most of the time, and succeeded in obtaining about a dozen fine skins for our collection, including two males of the Ovis Poli. This magnificent sheep, characteristic of and peculiar to the highlands of Central Asia, is often seen here in herds of thirty to forty.
These herds are mostly composed of females, and a few young, full-grown males, acting as leaders and protectors. The old males[1] hold aloof, and generally roam about singly, or in twos and threes. The favourite resort of these sheep are the spurs of the great ranges, and the smooth slopes leading to the level steppe. They rarely assemble in stern, rocky mountains, where the wild goat[2] makes his home, and where the latter may also be seen in herds numbering forty and upwards, similar in habits to the arkari, and extremely difficult of approach, both on account of his wariness, as well as from the nature of the localities he frequents.
- ↑ The horns of these old males are of colossal proportions. Those in my collection measure 4 feet 8 inches in length, taking the outside of the curve, and are 1½ feet thick at the base, their weight is about 36 lbs.
- ↑ In all probability this is Capra Skyn, not Capra Sibirica the horns approaching at the tips and turning inwards; the colour of the hair is a tawny-grey, belly white. The longest horns I saw measured 4 feet.
