d 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.)

NO. 444. OVIS BLANFORDII.
_Blanford's Wild Sheep_.

HABITAT.--Central hills of Khelat.

DESCRIPTION.--The horns of this species are longer and more slender
than those of _Ovis Vignei_, _O. cycloceros_, or _O. Gmelini_. Mr.
Hume says ('J. A. S. B.' 1877, p. 327): "In all these three species,
as far as I can make out, each horn lies in one plane, whereas in
the present species the horn twists out in a capital-S fashion. There
is, in fact, much the same difference between the horns of the present
species and of _O. cycloceros_, that there is between those of _O.
Kareleni_ and _O. Hodgsoni_. The lower part of the forehead at the
nasal suture, and the whole of the frontals, are more raised and
convex than in either _O. cycloceros_ or _O. Vignei_.

"The frontal ridge between the bases of the horns is less developed
in _O. Blanfordii_, and in this latter the posterior convex margin
of the bony palate is differently shaped, being more pointed, and
not nearly semi-circular as in _O. cycloceros_."

The dimensions of the skull are given in detail by Mr. Hume in the
paper above quoted, out of which I extract those of the horns:--

Inches.
Length along curve 35.75
Circumference at base 9.0
Width from tip to tip 16.5
Greatest breadth of horn at base 2.25
Greatest depth of ditto 3.25

The horns of a specimen of _O. cycloceros_ of about the same age were
29.5 in length and 10 inches in circumference at base, so that the
greater length and slenderness of the horns of _Ovis Blanfordii_ are
apparent. Mr. Hume writes to me that there is a living specimen of