CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 19 



the great quantities of stones dislodged. As each sheep in turn reached 

 the summit, curiosity gained the upper hand, and it turned, gazed down 

 in a bland, questioning way, and then with a quick turn, head erect, 

 trotted stiffly over the top and disappeared to view. On account of the 

 hard soil, the tracks could not be followed and pursuit was impossible. 



Just what the sheep were doing on that barren rock slide is hard to 

 say. They could hardly have been in the act of quitting the peak, for 

 that particular spot was some distance from any ridge, being on a slope 

 that ended only in the canyon a considerable distance below. If it was 

 food they were seeking, they were certainly going to a great deal of 

 extra effort, for there was plenty at the summit. This was quite evi- 

 dently a stray trio of more adventuresome or restless females or young 

 males, for no big-horned ram was with them. They might very possibly 

 have been members of a larger band on the other side of the mountain. 

 This seems the more likely in view of the fact that about an hour later, 

 ^in a location not so very distant from where the sheep were seen, the 

 writer came across fresh tracks of a whole band of sheep. 



Just how the sheep detected the presence of a human being is an 

 interesting question. The air was quite still, so they could have received 

 no warning through a telltale scent. It seems more likely they were 

 given notice through the sense of sight. If so, their vision is very acute, 

 for the writer was alone, dressed very inconspicuously and still at a 

 considerable distance. 



Another definite encounter occurred in September of 1914. This one 

 was purely fortuitous. A fruitless hunt for deer had at last led to the 

 outermost point on Ontario Peak, and here a rest was taken on the top 

 of a big rock. About midafternoon the silence was broken by faint yet 

 unmistakable sounds, which could have only been made by a whole troop 

 of animals. There was the sound of twigs snapping, the bleating of 

 lambs and the peculiar shuffling sound caused by the tramp of many 

 feet. It was very evident that a band of sheep was approaching. A 

 cautious observation over the edge of the rock disclosed a very inter- 

 esting sight. Coming along the top of the ridge was a party of sheep, 

 an individual stopping here and there to nibble at the vegetation. The 

 rams, with their great curling horns, were a majestic sight, while the 

 young of the year were exceedingly playful and altogether charming. 

 Unfortunately at this stage a scent warned the sheep. In a second the 

 whole band halted, heads up, noses questioning, then at an invisible 

 signal they all wheeled and made off in jerky, stiff-legged, bouncing 

 leaps, and quickly disappeared from view. 



At various other times sheep were seen, but under very unsatisfac- 

 tory conditions. Either the distance was so great that nothing could 

 be learned, or but a very fleeting glimpse was caught of the band in 

 flight. One is often given the aggravating impression that he comes too 

 late or that the sheep were too sharp-eyed and had taken to safety. 



However, although themselves difficult to locate, unmistakable traces 

 of the sheep are to be found if carefully sought. Here one sees the 

 grass cropped, the bushes nibbled, there the scattered droppings, and 

 in spots where the soil is powdery enough, or by a moist stream bank, 

 the clear large footprints in great abundance. One might almost study 

 the distribution of the sheep through this means alone. Thus the writer 



