FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



once identify the males as Mountain Sheep, and even the 

 smaller horns of the females are diagnostic. Although these 

 animals are true Sheep, the pelage is hairy and not woolly. 

 Mountain Sheep are found in both the Old and New Worlds 

 and some of those which are found in Asia are very similar to 

 our own Bighorns. 



These mammals are mountain climbers, as the name Moun- 

 tain Sheep implies, and are not found away from steep 

 slopes or rough, broken country. In the United States they 

 are usually found in the higher mountains ; at least that is the 

 case today; formerly they lived in broken country at lower 

 elevations but they have been so severely hunted that they 

 now seek the most inaccessible localities. Mountain Sheep 

 share with the Mountain Goat the claim to mountain climbing 

 championship. They are sure-footed mountaineers and climb 

 up and down precipitous slopes where man could not hope to 

 pass. 



In the northern part of the Rocky Mountain chain the 

 Sheep have become strongly marked, although very variable, 

 and specimens range from pure white to almost black. The 

 extreme types of coloration are easily identified but the 

 intermediate examples will be troublesome. These northern 

 forms have lighter, less massive horns than the southern 

 Sheep, but in every other respect are similar. 



Mountain Sheep are active throughout the year, moving 

 about somewhat with the seasons to follow the feed. They 

 may be seen at any hour of the day, but often lie down to rest 

 or take the sun, after feeding during the early morning, 

 and do not resume grazing until late in the day. 



The ewes have one or two young which are born early 

 in the spring. The voice of the Mountain Sheep is a loud 

 snort for the adult and a shrill blat for the kid. They are not 

 often heard to make any vocal noise, but will frequently 

 betray their presence by dislodging loose rock as they walk. 



Genus Oreamnos ^ 



Dentition: Incisors, £; Canines, g ; Premolars, f; Molars, f =32. 



" For an account of this genus see Madison Grant, The Rocky Mourt' 

 tain Goat, Ninth Annual Report of the New York Zool. Soc, 1905. 



