332 Mr. Douglas o7i North American Mammalia. 



A female is in the collection of the Zoological Society, which was 

 presented by the Hudson's Bay Company. A pair of horns also of the 

 male, which I brought from the confluence of the river Columbia with 

 the Pacific, was added to the same collection by the Council of the 

 Horticultural Society. 



Ovis Californianus. 



Length from the nose to the root of the tail 5 feet 10 inches; height 

 of the fore shoulder 2 feet 8 inches; that of the hind quarter the 

 same; girth behind the shoulders 6 ieti; length of the tail 1 foot 



6 inches. Head 16 inches long; 7 inches between the eyes; 9 inches 

 between the horns. Horns of the male lunate, partly compressed, 

 comparatively smooth, 24 to 30 inches long, yellowish; of the female, 



7 inches long, curved back and pointed outwards. Wool short, fine, 

 yellowish white, intermixed with longer brownish coarser hairs about the 

 neck, rump, legs and tail. Hair on the head short, fuscous brown ; ears 

 erect, 1 J inch long, obtuse. 



Of the manners of this majestic animal I can say nothing, never 

 having had an opportunity of seeing it alive. 



From the testimony of the Indian tribes about the Great Falls of the 

 Columbia River, it appears to inhabit the subalpine regions of Mounts 

 Wood, St. Helens, and Vancouver, but is more numerous in the mountain- 

 ous districts in the interior of California. The only good skin that ever 

 came under my observation* was that of a male, apparently recently killed, 

 which I saw on Sunday, 27th August, 1826. This the Indians would not 

 part with, unless I would give in return my shirt, which could ill be dis- 

 pensed with, my stock being reduced to one at that time. The horns I 

 purchased for a few trinkets and a little tobacco ; they are now in the 

 Museum of the Zoological Society. 



The horns are generally converted by the Snake Indians into bows, 

 spoons and cooking utensils. 



I have been induced to give the above notice, in the hope of direct- 

 ing the attention of persons who may hereafter travel in that country to 

 this animal. 



* In Lat. 46. 14. 55., Long. 121. 17. 0. 



