Rocky Mountain Bighorn 209 



h. RocKv Mountain Race — Ovis canadensis tvpica 



Plate XJII. 



Chardctcrs. — Size large, the height at the shoulder apparently ranging 

 from about 3 feet 2 inches to 3 teet 6 inches.^ Skull long and narrow. 

 Horns of adult male (tig. 40) very massive and thick, without a distinct keel 

 on the outer tront edge, and with the spiral short, so that the tips, which 

 are generally blunt and broken, are directed nearly forwards. Ears broad, 

 pointed, deer-like, and moderately clothed with hair, being apparently 

 a trirte larger than in the argalis. No long mane on the back of the head 

 and nape of neck. Caudal disk large and continued on each side of the 

 dark streak connecting the back with the tail well on to the upper surhice 

 of the hind-quarters. General colour ol upper-parts some shade of grayish- 

 brown, darkening along the middle line ot the back, where there is a more 

 or less distinct dark streak ; in winter and spring the prevalent tinge more 

 decidedly brown, and in autumn more distinctly gray ; old males, at least 

 in the summer coat, very pale coloured, so that the caudal disk is scarcely 

 distinguishable from the darker area. The under-parts, the inner and 

 hinder surfaces ot the legs, the buttocks and a streak on each side of the 

 base ot the tail, the chin and muzzle, and a spot on a grayish ground near 

 the upper part of the throat white or whitish ; face and outer surface of 

 ears light ashy-gray ; front surfaces of legs a darker blackish gray-brown 

 than the back, and the upper surface of the tail lighter than the dorsal 

 streak. Light area on under-parts not sharply defined. 



Such is the best description I am at present able to give of the coloration 



' Mr. Cameron informs me that adult rams measure From 40 to 42 inches in height at the withers, 

 and in girth around chest behind shoulders from 46 to 49 inches. Thcv weigh from 150 to 300 lbs. 

 clean, according to season, as when much "run " thev would appear to lose about a fourth of their 

 weight ; some of the ewes at this time ivcighing as much as the fivc-vcar olcf rams. 



2 E 



