IN THE ALASKA. YUKON GAMELANDS 



recognize in these animals. For of course it 

 takes great periods of time for even the process of 

 evolution to scatter and perpetuate the seeds of 

 species, or even sub-species. 



I have looked up the latest pubhcations on 

 sheep (Miller, U. S. National Museum), and tomy 

 amazement find he now recognizes thirteen spe- 

 cies and varieties, not count'mg/annini, which is 

 recognized as a cross between stonei and dalli. 



Regarding the name "bighorn:" the general 

 name for the entire genera . is ''mountain 

 sheep," or just "sheep." "Bighorn," in its pop- 

 ular application, refers only to first known cana- 

 densis — the others being designated as Ball's 

 sheep. Stone's sheep. Nelson's sheep, etc. In- 

 cidentally, the name canadensis is incorrect, but 

 long usage establishes it. It was described as 

 canadey-isis by Shaw in 1804, but some two 

 months earlier, Desmarest called it cervina. 



In 1885, True called it montanus, and in 1891 

 Merriam reverted to canadensis. In 191 2, Allen 

 proved cervina was the proper name because of 

 priority of the name. As Shaw used Desmarest's 

 type specimen for his name canadensis^ he has 

 since been under suspicion, but the long use of 

 the name establishes it apparently, and besides, 

 why should we enter the quarrel at this late day? 



As stated elsewhere in this work I thoroughly 

 disagree with the recognition of the long list of 

 subspecific varieties. I can only see two main 

 SDecies — dalli and canadensis. 



84 



