THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 59 



of the time. In the spring they follow the snow well back into 

 the rugged mountains, working their way back in September to 

 the high, bald ridges, and spend considerable time in the narrow 

 and almost barren muskeg valleys, crossing from one high coun- 

 try to another. During heavy storms in winter they are some- 

 times known to come into the edge of the timber, remaining there 

 during the storm only, but almost all of their feed is taken from 

 the high country. Even in midwinter they will be found feeding 

 in these high places, where the wind sweeps the snow oflf the moss, 

 or where it is not too deep for them to paw it away. Their feeding 

 grounds extend lower than those of the sheep, but lap far into it, 

 stopping short of only the most rugged of the sheep paths. 



This caribou is in every way a grand animal, and for many 

 reasons I pronounce it the king of American game animals. In 

 size it is equal to, if not larger than, the wapiti. The breeding 

 season is almost identical with that of the moose found here. Sel- 

 dom but one calf is dropped. The last of May and first of June 

 is the period in which nearly all calves are dropped, though cases 

 have come under my observation showing at least six weeks dif- 

 ference in the age of calves of the same summer, dropped in the 

 same locality. Like the moose calves, they grow with great rapid- 

 ity. I hope to continue my study of these animals further north 

 in the Rockies. 



Sheep. — The Ovis stonei, or " black sheep," as the natives call 

 them, are found throughout most of the mountain ranges in the 

 upper Stickine country. In the Cassiar Range of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains I traced them as far south as the headwaters of the Nass and 

 the Nelson Rivers. Their northern limit in the Rockies, however, 

 is reached soon after leaving the Liard River, toward the north. 

 Beaver River, a tributary of the Liard, represents their northern 

 boundary. 



They range slightly higher than the caribou described. During 

 the summer months the old rams seek seclusion in very rugged 

 districts, feeding in the little canyons high up in the mountains 

 and on the small meadows on the summit of the ranges they 

 inhabit, growing very fat in these quiet retreats. Seldom do they 

 congregate in very considerableK numbers, rarely more than five 

 l^eing seen together. The ewes remain one floor below, where 

 the table-lands or meadows are more extended, and if left undis- 

 turbed will be found throughout the entire summer season feeding 



