242 



BULLETIN 56, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



angle of mouth. 60; fore foot with hoof, 270; hind foot with hoof, 

 315; height of animal at shoulder. 770; height at hip, 870: length of 

 horn. 1<).' ) >. 



Comparison with Oris canadensis mexicanut <m<l o. <■. nelsoni. — 

 T am indebted to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, chief of the Biological Sla- 

 very of the I*. S. Department of Agriculture, for the opportunity 

 of comparing the Gaillard bighorn with the type series of mexicanus 

 and ii<!s<>ni. Oris canadensis gaillardi is smaller than either, and 

 has relatively smaller feet. The type differs from Texan specimens 

 of mexicanus — the only ones seen that were in corresponding winter 

 pelage — in Inning the head practically unicolor without a white 

 muzzle, and in the pattern of white and seal-brown markings on the 

 limb-. The head of the adult male, and skin of adult female (No. 

 21392, U.S.N.M.), which are comparable with the ten specimens 

 (type and topotypes) of nelsoni from the Grapevine Mountains. 

 California, are more strongly colored than the latter; and the narrow 

 vertebral stripe, usually seen in nelsoni. is obsolete. 

 The color differences in these three forms of sheep 

 are closely parallel to those of the coyotes of the 

 same regions. 



Comparison with typical Oris canadensis. — I have 

 failed to appreciate any important differences of 

 color in the bighorn of Montana — which is doubtless 

 the same as the form from the Rocky Mountains of 

 southern Canada — and that of Colorado. A fine old 

 male (No. 12079, U.S.X.M.) from Twin Takes. Colo- 

 rado, killed above timber line October 2, 1874, by 

 Mr. C. W. Deny, is in the dark coat. The gen- 

 eral coloration is dark brown, of a shade be- 

 tween burnt umber and sepia, darkest on the neck and limbs, the 

 long hair on the back of the neck, which is the darkest part, being 

 as dark as seal brown. The rum}), abdomen, and posterior surface 

 of the fore and hind legs are white. The tail is dark brown, this 

 color running up on the rump, which it divides into two white areas. 

 The ears and end of muzzle are dirty white. The coat is long and 

 dense throughout. Length. L,664 mm.; ear from crown (about) 100. 

 " Iris, golden gray: center, rich brown." Other specimens from near 

 the Canadian border of the United States, do not differ appreciably 

 from the one just described. Compared with these, the type of 0. c. 

 gaillardi from the Gila mountains (No. 59906, C.S.X.M.). described 

 above, a winter specimen, is very much paler throughout. Its pelage 

 is very much shorter and its ears longer and more pointed. The ears 

 of this immature female are actually longer than those of the largest 

 males in the northern series, besides being more pointed apically and 

 short haired. It also differs from them in having the white of the 



Fig. 38.— Ovis cana 

 densis gaillardi 

 Horn op type. 



