IXITED STATES OF AMERICA. 309 



Feet. Inches. 



Length from the nose to the root of the tail . 5 



of the tail ...... 4 



of the horn ...... 3 6 



Circumference of the body .... 4 



The stand ..39 



The horn is of the circular kind, proceeding in a triangle from the 

 head like that of the ram, A pair of these horns have been known 

 to weigh twenty-five pounds. In short, this animal appears to be a 

 compound of the Deer and the Sheep, having the body and hair of 

 the first, with the head and horns of the last. 



But the animal above described was found in his summer dre>-i, 

 and we have no evidence that this species does not change its coat 

 of hair for one of wool, which will better enable it to sustain the ri- 

 gours of the Kooky Mountain winter. On the specimens which were 

 brought by Lewis and Clark, and which are at present in Peale's Mu- 

 seum, the wool had made its appearance ; and we have every reason 

 to suppose that in the winter this animal exhibits all the appearance 

 of the perfect sheep. 



At the Yellowstone river, Lewis and (lark saw the first Argali ; 

 and they continued to see them until they left the Rocky Mountains 

 on their journey to the west. These animals generally frequent the 

 highest regions which produce any vegetation; though sometimes 

 they descend to feed at the bottom of the valleys, whence, on the 

 the least alarm, they retire to the most inaccessible precipices. They 

 are extremely shy, and possess great speed and activity. They 

 bound from rock to rock with all the facility and confidence of the 

 Goat, and frequently disappoint the hunter by the celerity of their 

 movements. 



These animals must bring forth their young at a very early season ; 

 as on the 28th of May, on the upper parts of the Missouri, Lewis 

 and Clark saw them in great quantities, with their young half grown. 

 In volume ii, page 359, they say, under the date of July 29th, "The 

 Bighorns are in great numbers along the steep cliffs of the river, 

 (Missouri) and being now in fine order, their flesh is extremely ten- 

 der, delicate and well flavoured, and resembles in colour and flavour 

 our mutton, though it is not so strong. 



Lewis and ( lark give us an account of another animal of the Ovis 

 genus, which we have to lament that they had not the good fortune 

 to see. In volume ii, p. 169, they say: 



"The Sheep is found in many places, but mostly in the timbered 

 parts of the Rocky Mountains. They live in greater numbers on the 

 chain of mountains forming the commencement of the woody country 

 on the coast, and passing the Columbia beteween the falls and rapids. 

 We have only seen the skins of these animals which the natives dress 

 with the wool, and the blankets which they manufacture from the 

 wool. The animal from this evidence appears to be of the size of 

 our common sheep, of a white colour. The wool is fine on many parts 

 of the body, but in length not equal to that of our domestic sheep. 

 On the back, and particularly on the top of the head, this is inter- 

 mixed with a considerable proportion or straight long hairs. From 

 the Indian accounts these animals have erect pointed horns : one of 

 our engage es informed us that he had seen them hi the Black hills, 

 and that the horns were lunated like those of our domestic sheep. 



Vol. II R 



