Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 2 (1876).djvu/224

202 Etsina, but we could not discover if this were precisely the same breed. My impression, however, is that it is the same, and that the Tibetan species is also a native of Kan-su and Koko-nor.

Its habits are similar to those of the Mongolian argali. It is generally found in the more elevated plateaux, avoiding the steep and rugged mountains, and keeping to the outer slopes and hills; in Northern Tibet it may frequently be seen pasturing along with kulans and antelope in the ravines. The senses of the argali are keener than those of any other animal in Tibet, and it is an exceedingly wary animal, although hardly ever hunted; the Mongols finding it useless to attempt shooting them with their matchlocks. They collect in flocks of five to fifteen, and occasionally twenty-five to thirty, accompanied by one, two, or three rams, which appear to guide and protect the ewes; the latter relying on their leaders to warn them of danger and conduct them to a place of safety. When alarmed they run for a few hundred yards and wheel round; the leader will then often climb the nearest hill or rock, in order to reconnoitre the surrounding country. In this position the ram forms a fine picture, his graceful figure standing well out from the rocks, and his snow-white breast glistening in the sun.

I often asked myself which was the finer beast of the two, the yak or the argali; and the best answer I could make was, that each of these animals was perfect in its way. The mighty size of the yak, his ponderous horns and long fringe of hair almost