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 this sheep at present in the London Zoological Gardens.
[NO. 445. OVIS NAHURA vel BURHEL.]
The Blue Wild Sheep (Jerdon's No. 237).
NATIVE NAMES.—Burhel, Buroot, in the Himalayas; Napu, Na, or Sna, Thibet and Ladakh; Nervati, in Nepal. Wa' or War on the Sutlej.