The Mountain Sheep and Its Range 



once suggested, that there are many species of wild 

 sheep, and that the spiral of the horn of each 

 species is a different one. Moreover, within each 

 species there are of course different ages, and the 

 spiral may differ with age and also at the same age 

 to some extent with the individual. In some cases, 

 the ear perhaps lies at the apex of a cone formed 

 by the horn, but in others it does not lie there. 

 Moreover this hypothesis, like the other and older 

 one, in which the horns were said to act as the 

 jumping cushion, takes no account of the females 

 and young, which in mists, fogs, and at other 

 times, need protection quite as much as the adult 

 males. The old males with large and perfect 

 horns have to a large extent fulfilled the function 

 of their lives — reproduction — and their place is 

 shortly to be taken by younger animals growing 

 up. Moreover they have reached the full measure 

 of strength and agility, and through years of ex- 

 perience have come to a full knowledge of the 

 many dangers to which their race is exposed. It 

 would seem extraordinary that nature should have 

 cared so well for them, and should have left the 

 more defenseless females and young unprotected 

 from the dangers likely to come to them from ene- 

 mies which may make sounds in a fog. 



The old males with large and perfect horns 

 311 



