Mexican Bishorn 1 1 



that the bighorn found on some of the half- desert ranges of Northern 

 Mexico, and the Southern United States from Texas to California, as well 

 perhaps as those of Lower California, may belong to the same type. In 

 Lower California Dr. Grinnell states that bighorn are still quite abundant. 

 Most of those killed in that State are, however, attained by the unsports- 

 manlike practice of " potting " them as they come to drink at the water- 

 holes. 



THE MEXICAN BIGHORN 



[Ovis canadensis mexicaniis) 



Quite recently the bighorn inhabiting the Chihuahua district of Central 

 Mexico has been separated by Dr. Merriam ^ as a distinct species, under 

 the name of Ovis Jiicxicaniis. It is described as of large size and inter- 

 mediate in coloration between the typical and the Californian bighorn ; 

 the horns being large, massive, dark, and not strongly curved outward, 

 and the hoois and cheek-teeth larger than in the typical race. The most 

 distinctive character appears to be the large size of the ears, which are 

 stated to be double the dimensions of those of the typical bighorn. The 

 tail is relatively long and slender. 



The colour is described as drab brown, darker on the throat, legs, and 

 tail than elsewhere, but without any trace of a dark dorsal stripe. The 

 muzzle is decidedly paler than the rest of the face, and the whitish area on 

 the chin broader and less sharply defined than in the typical race. The 

 light rump-patch is also broader and more squarely truncated than in the 

 latter ; and on the hind limb the dark colour covers more of the inner side 

 of the thigh, and less of the lower part of the leg, where the white is in 

 consequence more developed. 



' Proceedings Biological Society of Washington, vol. xiv. p. 30 (1901). 



