ZOOLOGY. 137 



goat, common to both the Rocky and Cascade mountains, and is woolly, somewhat like the 

 domestic sheep. The fact that the explorers above mentioned had only seen shins accounts for 

 their imperfect descriptions, as well as for the inconsistent accounts they give of their horns. 

 There is a curious story, common among mountain men, that in leaping from precipices it 

 alights on its horns and rebounds without injury ! I have never heard of this species in 

 California, though they may exist in the Sierra Nevada. The Yakimas and Snoqualme Indians 

 get them in the Cascade mountains, north of the Columbia, in latitude 47° 30'. They were 

 formerly, if not now, abundant on Mount Hood. — See Lewis and Clark's narrative. — G. 



I have obtained several hunters' skins of the mountain goat from the localities north of the 

 Columbia river mentioned by Mr. Gibbs. Mr. Craig, an old Indian trader, and at present 

 United States Indian agent, among the Nez Perces, says that these animals are quite abundant 

 in the mountains near the Kooskooskia and Salmon rivers, streams which empty into Snake 

 river, and that in the country of the Nez Perces, about forty miles from his residence, they are 

 found in great numbers on the bald hills and bare mountains of the locality, and that upon these 

 they can be seen from a great distance feeding in "large droves." He says that the male is 

 luJiife, the female similar but tinged tvith yeUoiv, and that the horns are strong and of a beautiful 

 jet black. 



I have seen dozens of hunters' skins of these animals iu the lodges of the Indians on 

 Whidby's island, Puget Sound. They were obtained from the Indians living about Mount 

 Baker, iu the Cascade range. Skins obtained by the late Lieutenant John Nugen and myself 

 are now in the Smithsonian collection. — S. 



OVIS MONTANA, C u v . 



Bighorn ; JUonntain Sheep. 



Baibd, Gen. Rep. Mammals, p. 673. 



The Bighorn Sheep. — There are several rocky prominences in northern California which, 

 among the old hunters and trappers, have the name of "Sheep rocks," where the bighorn 

 exists, or did exist until recently. One of these lies to the north and east of Shasta butte, (or 

 Mount Shasta,) in the range bordering Shasta valley on the east. Another locality is a singular 

 and conspicuous point between Scott and Shasta valleys. It also exists, I am told, in the 

 recesses of the Cascade mountains, but of this fact, or of its being found in the Olympic (Coast) 

 range, in Washington Territory, I am uncertain. The natives of the northwest coast north of 

 54° 40' make spoons from a substance which I suppose to be their horns, and if so, they 

 undoubtedly exist as far north as that point. An old trapper told me that he had once witnessed 

 an encounter between a bighorn and a black bear, in which the latter was worsted and had to 

 retreat, the ram having knocked him down three times. — G. 



The Mountain Sheep, (Tinoon of the Walla- Wallas ?) is said to be found on Mount Hood, near 

 Fort Dalles, Oregon. I once saw a large horn in use as a plaything by some Indian children at 

 the Dalles, which appeared to belong to this animal, but was much smaller than is common. I 

 have eaten the mutton killed in the Rocky mountains, west of the dividing ridge, within the 

 limits of Washington Territory. The flesh is very good, tasting much like the mutton of tame 

 sheep, having the same peculiar flavor, only a little stronger. They are said to abound in the 

 Black Hills and " Mauvaises Torres of Nebraska." — S. 



18Q 



