66 The National Collection 



were saved, one of the finest appears in Rowland Ward's list of "record" 

 Musk-Ox heads, for the world, as No. 8 from the top. The trophy (Figure 19) 

 which Mr. Pike selected to represent him in the National Collection of Heads 

 and Horns is very nearly equal to that mentioned above. 



One glance at the long, wide-sweeping horns and long brown hair of this 

 specimen is sufficient to convince any sportsman that it is indeed "one of the 

 finest." It takes on additional interest from the fact that it was mounted by 

 our old friend, the late John Fannin, formerly curator of the Victoria (B. C.) 

 Museum, who by many sportsmen and naturalists of the United States as well 

 as Canada, is affectionately remembered. 



The measurements of Mr. Pike's justly famous Musk-Ox head are as 

 follows : 



Length on curve, 26 J inches; widest outside spread, 28 inches; distance 

 between tips, 26 f inches; width across base, 8^ inches; circumference at base, 

 20J inches. 



A MAGNIFICENT BIG HORN HEAD 



THERE is only one English adjective which fitly and adequately describes 

 the Mountain Sheep head, from Lower California, that has just been 

 presented to this collection by Mr. George H. Gould, of Santa Bar- 

 bara. That word is "magnificent." It is not only one of the finest heads ever 

 taken on the American continent, but I think that it is probably the greatest 

 trophy of Ovis canadensis that ever fell to the rifle of a gentleman sportsman. 

 There are three other very fine heads with which the writer is acquainted, but all 

 of them were taken by mercenaries and sold for what they would bring in coin. 

 In the great majority of cases it is the local Indian, or "resident" hunter or 

 guide, who has the time to follow up "the head of heads" until he brings it 

 down. 



As one sees the "Gould head" for the first time (Figure 20), its surpassing 

 qualities are apparent at a glance. The horns are not only of great size and 

 length, but they are absolutely perfect in surface and in general preservation, 

 and their splendid circle and outward spread are everything that could be de- 

 sired. We had seen illustrations of this head, but it is now clear that not one 

 of them ever conveyed a more than half adequate impression of the reality. 



