138 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



describe as being brown or dark hazel, were of a 

 straw colour with a slight mottling of hazel near the 



Darkness put a stop to the examination. There 

 was neither wood nor water near or Dyche would 

 undoubtedly have camped near his first big-horn. 

 An hour was spent in finding his shoes and hat, and 

 eight o'clock was past when the naturalist reached 

 camp. A hot supper was waiting for him, and while 

 discussing it the hunter told of his adventure. 



Everyone was up bright and early next morning. 

 The doctor went south, while Dyche saddled Billy 

 and went after his sheep. Two hours were spent in 

 measuring and skinning the animal, and by one 

 o'clock the skin, skeleton, and most of the meat were 

 in camp. 



The doctor arrived from an unsuccessful hunt in 

 time for dinner. The sheep steaks proved that the 

 flesh of the big-horn is the finest game meat in exist- 

 ence. Dyche lived for weeks on the flesh without 

 having it pall on him, which shows that it is differ- 

 ent from any other venison. The meat was tender 

 and juicy, having only a slight mutton flavour, while 

 the fat, or tallow, would not harden, but formed a 

 granular mass, except in the coldest weather. 



The afternoon was spent in preparing the skin 

 for preservation, which was a simple operation. All 

 particles of flesh and fat were first thoroughly removed 

 from every part of the skin to the hoofs, and then a 

 thin-bladed knife slipped between the hoof and bone. 

 The ears and nose were cleaned of fascia and carti- 

 lage. Four parts of salt and one of alum were 



