Rocky Mountain Bighorn 



7 



rams, which form a comparatively short spiral, are not distinctly keeled in 

 front, and are generally blunted and broken at the tips. The ears, too, are 

 broad, pointed, and deer-like, with moderately long hair externally ; there 

 is no long mane on the nape of the neck, and the light rump-patch is very 

 large and extends well on to the loins. The general colour ot the coat 

 is some shade ot greyish brown, gradually becoming darker in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the dorsal streak, the brown tint being more conspicuous 

 in winter and spring and the grey in autumn ; old rams in the short 

 summer coat may indeed become so pale-coloured as to render the rump- 



FiG. 1. — Head of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Ram. From the Selkirk Range, British Columbia. 



patch scarcely distinguishable. The light area on the under- parts passes 

 gradually into the fawn above. As a rule, the general colour is very 

 similar to that of the mule deer. A fine old ram will stand as much as 

 42 inches at the withers, with a girth behind the shoulder of 49 inches, 

 and the weight may reach as much as 300 pounds. In WilJ Oxen, S/icep, 

 and Goats, the maximum recorded length of the horns of O. canadensis is 

 given at 45 inches ; but since that was written the magnificent specimen 

 shown in the accompanying figure has been measured. It was obtained by 

 Mr. W. F. Sheard in the Selkirk Range, British Columbia, and measures 

 52^ inches along the outer curve, and 18^ inches in basal circumference. 



