322 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



some particular spot, favorably situated with, ref 

 erence to the well-known trails of the sheep, they 

 built a high- walled corral, with long guiding wings 

 diverging from the gateway ; and into this inclos- 

 ure they sometimes succeeded in driving the noble 

 game. Great numbers of Indians were of course re 

 quired, more, indeed, than they could usually mus 

 ter, counting in squaws, children, and all; they were 

 compelled, therefore, to build rows of dummy hun 

 ters out of stones, along the ridge-tops which they 

 wished to prevent the sheep from crossing. And, 

 without discrediting the sagacity of the game, these 

 dummies were found effective ; for, with a few live 

 Indians moving about excitedly among them, they 

 could hardly be distinguished at a little distance 

 from men, by any one not in the secret. The whole 

 ridge-top then seemed to be alive with hunters. 



The only animal that may fairly be regarded 

 as a companion or rival of the sheep is the so- 

 called Eocky Mountain goat (Aplocerus montana, 

 Eich.), which, as its name indicates, is more ante 

 lope than goat. He, too, is a brave and hardy 

 climber, fearlessly crossing the wildest summits, 

 and braving the severest storms, but he is shaggy, 

 short-legged, and much less dignified in demeanor 

 than the sheep. His jet-black horns are only about 

 five or six inches in length, and the long, white hair 

 with which he is covered obscures the expression 

 of his limbs. I have never yet seen a single speci 

 men in the Sierra, though possibly a few flocks 

 may have lived on Mount Shasta a comparatively 

 short time ago. 



The ranges of these two mountaineers are pretty 



