OVIS MEXICANUS, MERRIAM. 
MEXICAN MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 
Type specimen, 6 ad. No. 90,342, in the United States National Museum, 
Biological Survey Collection. Eight specimens, collected by E. W. 
Nelson and E. A. Goldman, September, 1899. Described by Dr. C. 
Hart Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. of Washington, April 5, 1901. 
Type locality—Mountains near Lake Santa Maria, State of Chihuahua, 
Northern Mexico, Lat. 31° 25’. 
Dr. Merriam’s description is as follows: 
“ Characters.—Size large; color dark, much darker than nelsoni, but less 
dark than canadensis; horns large; massive, dark, not strongly out- 
curved; hoofs and molars larger than in O. canadensis; ears long and 
large, nearly double the size of those of canadensis, measuring from 
occiput, in dry skin, I10-116 mm.; tail long and slender, measuring 
about 130 mm. Color pattern similar to that of canadensis. 
“ Color.—Body color above and below drab brown, darkest on throat, legs, 
and tail; no trace of dorsal stripe; muzzle decidedly paler than rest 
of face; rump patch broader and more squarely truncate anteriorly 
than in canadensis; dark color on hind leg covering much more of 
inner side of thigh than in canadensis; but much less of lower leg, 
the white spreading broadly over the posterior and inner aspects, and 
on the inner side ending abruptly just above the calcaneal joint; whit- 
ish part of chin broader and less sharply defined. 
“ Cranial characters——Skull as a whole large and massive. Compared with 
canadensis, orbits less prominent; frontals flatter (less ‘“‘ dished” in 
forehead) ; basioccipital narrow, its sides nearly parallel, its muscular 
facets small and median sulcus broad; occiput (viewed from behind) 
much narrower; depth of face (above molars) less; premaxille longer, 
more slender, and reaching much farther back; jugal relatively small 
and less expanded anteriorly; lachrymal long, reaching well out toward 
premaxilla; paroccipital narrower and more slender; lips of posterior 
nares (behind hamulars) thin and somewhat everted [in canadensis 
thickened and much swollen]; angle of mandible obsolete; coronoid 
process lower and less expanded. Molar teeth larger. Horn cores 
longer, with longer curve and less flaring base. 
“ Horns.—Large and heavy, but longer and less massive than those of cana- 
densis; upper (flat) side narrower; base less flaring; orbital corner 
shortly rounded off (not produced). 
“ Measurements.—Type specimen, ¢ ad.: Total length, 1,530; tail vertebra, 
130; hind foot, 425; height at shoulder, 900. An ad. 2 from type 
locality: Total length, 1,490; tail vertebra, 130; hind foot, 405; height 
at shoulder, 880.” 
Probable distribution——In addition to the eight specimens collected 
by Mr. E. W. Nelson, three other specimens were taken by Mr. D. M. 
Payne and party, of El Paso, Texas, at Lake Santa Maria, Mexico, in 
