BOVID.E 61 



Genus Oreamnos Rafinesque. (Mountain — lamb.) 

 Horns, present in both sexes and nearly of the same size, 

 black, slightly curved backward; spinous processes of interscap- 

 ular vertebras very long- and rigid ; hair very long, under fur 

 short, wooly ; a beard-like tuft under the chin. 



Oreamnos montanus ( )rd. ( Of the mountains.) 



MOUNTAIN GOAT. 



Hoofs, horns and edges of the nostrils black ; pelage every- 

 where dirty white; smaller in size than the Bighorn; horns 150 

 to 200 mm. long (6 to 8 inches). 



Type locality. Cascade Mountains near the Columbia River. 



Higher peaks of the Cascade Mountains. Said to have been 

 found in the northern Sierra Nevada but not now known to 

 occur there. Newberry says, in speaking of Sheep Rock, Mount 

 Shasta : "It is said that the Rocky Mountain Goat is also to be 

 found there, but of that I have very great doubt." Captain 

 Charles Bendire recorded it from Inyo County in 1868. It is 

 practically certain that the species is now not living in this 

 State. 



This animal has the habits and somewhat the form of a 

 goat; nevertheless it is an antelope and a near relative of the 

 Swiss Chamois. A better name for the animal would have 

 been American Chamois. They frequent the higher parts of 

 rough mountains, and are said by some authors to be very watch- 

 ful and difficult to hunt, while others say it is stupid and easily 

 shot when the hunter succeeds in climbing to the rugged peaks 

 which they frequent. In winter they descend to more moderate 

 elevations to obtain food. The young are dropped in June. 



