NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK HOLLISTEK 301 



The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) was formerly common in the 

 mountainous parts of central Europe, but is now rare over much of 

 its former range. Related forms are found in the mountains of 

 Spain, northern Africa, and eastward to central Asia. 



The tahr {Hemitragus jemlahicus) of the Himalayas and the 

 aoudad, or Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) of northern Africa, 

 are species which connect in many features the true goats with the 

 sheep and make it difficult to draw a sharp distinction between the 

 groups. The male tahr is an animal of striking appearance, with his 

 heavy collar and mane of long, shaggy hair reaching to his knees. 

 He is an animal of the forested mountains and an exceptional climber 

 and jumper. The aoudad is another animal that attracts great at- 

 tention in the Zoo. Although lacking the regular beard of the goat, 

 he has extraordinarily developed hair on the neck and fore limbs, 

 and an upright mane extending to near the middle of his back. 

 The aoudad is also at home on the steep slopes that are included 

 within his paddocks. 



The Rocky Mountain sheep, or bighorn, which is known in some 

 of its geographical forms in western North America from Alaska 

 to Mexico is well represented in the park by five specimens of the 

 typical form (Ovis canadensis) received from the Dominion parks 

 branch of the Canadian Government. These sheep came from the 

 protected area included wit 7 an the Rocky Mountains Park and were 

 shipped from Banff, Alberta. Several young have been reared. The 

 Arizona race (O. c. gaillardi) is also shown. 



One of the most beautiful of wild sheep on exhibition is the 

 mouflon (O. musimon), native to Corsica and Sardinia. It is much 

 smaller than the American wild sheep and is even smaller than a 

 good-sized domestic sheep, but it is a trim creature and is handsomely 

 marked. 



EOCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT 



The Rocky Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), which is still 

 common in parts of Alberta and British Columbia, was formerly 

 abundant in the rugged mountains from Alaska to Washington, 

 Idaho, and Montana. It is one of the most peculiar of American 

 big game animals and has no nearer living relatives than the 

 chamois, serow, goral, and takin, all found in the Old World. The 

 hair is white or creamy white, and in the winter grows long and 

 sna gg3 r - The horns, which average longest in the female, are shiny 

 black with smooth, sharp tips. Mountain goats are not especially 

 alert, and are easily stalked, but their natural range is in the most 

 difficult mountains and a successful hunt usually requires time and 

 endurance. The mountain goats on exhibition were presented by 



