MOUNTAIN SHEEP 



Nelson Bighorn; Desert Bighorn.- — Ovis canadensis nelsoni 

 (Merriam). 

 Much paler than typical canadensis, smaller in size and with 

 smaller molar teeth; resembling stonei in color pattern but 

 paler. Found in "mountains of southern Nevada, southern 

 California, and northern border of Lower California." 

 (Allen) 



White Sheep; Dall Sheep. — Ovis dalli dalli (Nelson). 



Very similar to the Rocky Mountain Bighorn in general 

 appearance except for color which is white to whitish marked 

 with dusky; smaller size; more slender horns. Color white 

 except for a variable amount of dusky-tipped hairs along 

 back and some brownish on tail. Specimens from the 

 Kenai Peninsula and Alaska Range are practically pure 

 white. Total length, males, 58 inches; tail vertebras, 4 

 inches; hind foot, 16.7 inches; weight, about 200 pounds. 

 Found in "Greater part of Alaska and Yukon, and south- 

 eastward in the Mackenzie Mountains." (Allen) 



So variable is the color pattern of the northern Bighorn 

 Sheep that there seems to be more or less complete inter- 

 gradation from the pure white of typical dalli to the very 

 dark pelage of stonei. Plate I. 



Kenai Bighorn. — Ovis dalli kenaiensis Allen. 



Very similar to typical dalli and indistinguishable from it, 

 according to Osgood. Found on the Kenai Peninsula of 

 Alaska. 



Stone Bighorn; "Black Sheep." — Ovis dalli stonei (Allen). 

 Closely related to typical dalli, but averaging much darker 

 in color. Prevailing coloration varying from dark gray to 

 blackish brown; somewhat resembling typical canadensis, 

 but darker in general tone, smaller and horns more slender 

 and outwardly curving. Found in northern British 

 Columbia, north to about 64° in the Yukon. Plate I. 

 The type of Ovis cowani Rothschild, described from near 

 Mt. Logan, British Columbia, is a very dark (said to be 

 deep black) specimen and probably is referable to stonei. 



Ovis canadensis nigra Millais 1 



Ovis canadensis samilkameenensis \ =Ovis dalli stonei. 

 Millais J 



Fannin Sheep. — Ovis dalli fannini (Homaday). 



So closely allied to typical dalli as to be indistinguishable 

 from it, according to Osgood. The type specimen is 

 intermediate in color between pure white Sheep from the 

 Kenai Peninsula and the dark, blackish brown Sheep of the 

 Stikine. Type locality, near Dawson City, Yukon. 



Mountain Sheep are not liable to confusion with any other 

 of our native mammals. The massive, curling horns will at 



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