598 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 







Lydekker's Bighorn; Clifton's Bighorn; Verkhoyansk Bighorn 



Ovis NIVICOLA LYDEKKERI Kowarzik 



O[w] borealis lydekkeri Kowarzik, Zool. Anzeiger, vol. 41, no. 10, p. 443, 1913. 

 (Based upon a specimen described and figured by Lydekker (1902, pp. 

 83-85, pi. 8) as Ovis canadensis borealis Severtzov; type locality, "North- 

 ern Siberia, at a point distant about 40 miles from the mouth of the 

 Yana River. The exact locality is the north-west end of the Verkhoyansk 

 Mountains, forming the watershed between the valleys of the Yana and 

 the Lena.") 



FIGS.: Lydekker, 1902, pi. 8, and 1913a, pi. 24, fig. 2. 



While no information of very recent date is available concerning 

 the numerical status of this sheep, at last accounts it appeared fairly 

 plentiful. 



"Essentially the same type of animal" as the Kamchatkan Big- 

 horn; "although its general coloration is decidedly lighter, there is 

 a much greater proportion of white, and the dorsal streak and tail 

 are much darker. ... In the male . . . the white rump-patch is 

 much larger .... The face, too, is white, with the exception of a 

 wood-brown transverse band midway between the nostrils and the 

 eyes, which expands out to include each cheek. The whole nape is 

 also white mingled with grey. An indistinct dark line runs down the 

 back and becomes more distinct as it approaches the tail, which is 

 blackish brown. There is also a larger proportion of white on the 

 legs and under-parts. . . . 



"A female head ... is wholly greyish white, passing into pure 

 white on the forehead and muzzle." (Lydekker, 1902, p. 85.) 



Sushkin (1925, p. 150) gives the distribution as "northeastern 

 Verkhoyansk Range." 



Bunge (1884, pp. 34-35) speaks of meeting with this sheep in 

 1883 on the extreme northern point of the right bank of the Lena 

 River, opposite Stolbovoi Island, where it was apparently not rare. 

 He adds that several specimens were secured in the vicinity of 

 Bulun, a post on the lower Lena. According to Nehring (1890, 

 pp. 36-37), Bunge found the animal in the entire extent of the 

 Verkhoyansk Range. 



About 1901 J. Talbot Clifton secured two specimens, at least one 

 of them at a point "40 miles from the mouth of the Yana River" 

 (Lydekker, 1902, pp. 83-85). 



From information recently supplied by Pfizenmayer (1939, pp. 

 68-69, 138, 204-214), it appears probable that this sheep occurs on 

 most or all of the larger ranges situated between the lower Lena 

 and the Indigirka. In 1901 he saw many sheep in the Tas-chayach- 

 tach Mountains (which form the divide between the Yana and the 

 Indigirka), at about latitude 67 40' N. Here he noted two herds of 

 over a hundred individuals each. In 1908 he found a fair number 



