The Mountain Sheep and its Range 



"Their chief enemy is the mountain lion, which 

 hunts them on the chffs, apparently never about 

 watering places. Lion tracks were not rare about 

 the sheep runs. They are extremely wary about 

 coming down for water, and take every precau- 

 tion. Before leaving the cliffs to cross the valley 

 to water they usually select some high ridge and 

 descend along this, gazing constantly at the spring, 

 usually halting ten or more minutes on every 

 prominent rocky point. When within a hundred 

 yards or less of the water, a long careful search is 

 made, and a great deal of ear-work performed, 

 the head being turned first to one side and then 

 to the other. When they do at last satisfy them- 

 selves, they make a bolt and drink quickly, stop- 

 ping occasionally to listen and look for danger. 



"If, however, they should be surprised at the 

 water they do not flee at once, but gaze for some 

 time at the intruder, and then go a short way and 

 take another look, and so on until at last they 

 break into a steady run for the cliffs. At least 

 thirty sheep were observed at the water, and none 

 came before 9 i^o A. M. or later than 2 130 P. M., 

 most coming down between 12:00 M. and 1:00 

 p. M. This habit has "probably been established 

 to avoid lions, which are seldom about during the 

 hottest part of the day. A few ewes were seen 



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