OVIS NELSONI, MERRIAM. 
NELSON’S MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 
Type specimens in the United States National Museum, Biological Survey 
Collection. Ten specimens collected by E. W. Nelson, June 4, r18ot. 
Described by C. Hart Merriam, in the Proceedings of the Biological 
Society of Washington, Vol. XI., page 217, July 15, 1897. 
Type locality.—Grape Vine Mountains, on State boundary between Cali- 
fornia and Nevada, about Lat. 37°. 
The following is Dr. Merriam’s description and measurements: 
“General characters.—Apparently similar to Ovis stonei Allen in pattern 
of coloration, but much paler; rump patch small and completely divided 
on median line; tail short and slender; molar teeth very small. 
“ Color.—Upper parts, except rump patch, pale dingy brown; under parts 
and legs much darker, contrasting sharply with the white areas; in- 
guinal region, hinder part of belly (narrowing to a point anteriorly 
some distance behind forelegs), inner aspect of thighs, and posterior 
aspect of fore and hind legs, white. 
“ Measurements (taken in flesh by collector).—Total length, 1,280; tail 
vertebrz, 100; hind foot, 360; height at shoulder, 830. In the dry skin 
the rump patch measures about 190 in breadth by 150 in length (from 
apparent base of tail).” 
Probable Distribution. 
California.—Mountains east of Yosemite Valley; Mt. Waterman, of 
San Bernardino Range. 1900.—Walter K. Fisher. 
San Diego County, along the desert side of the mountains. 1897.— 
A, W. Anthony. 
Chihuahua Mountains, fifty miles northeast of San Diego. 1901.— 
Daniel Coolidge. 
Lower California Peninsula.—Santa Catalina Mountains.—W. W. Price, 
Bull. A. M. N. H., VIL. p. 258, 1895 (as Ovis cervina). 
“Gulf of Cortez”’—head of the Gulf of California. 1898—George H. 
Gould. 
Mountains of San Pedro Martie (Lat. 30° 30’), fifty miles north and 
‘ south by twenty miles wide, “sometimes mapped as Santa Catalina, but 
not called so by the natives.” From this range sheep are common all 
along the Gulf to near Mulege (Lat. 27°), and especially about Ubi Moun- 
tain. Found on the Pacific side at Lat. 29° 30’. 1901.—A. W. Anthony. 
Owing to a lack of material, no one can say at present where 
Ovis montana reaches its southern boundary, or where Ovis 
