64 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA [No. 55 



basin far below but still among banks of permanent snow. When 

 next in these mountains in 1915 he saw tracks of only domestic 

 sheep, but was told that a few of the wild species could still be 

 found in the most inaccessible places and on some of the high ledges 

 along the rim of the Snake Eiver Canyon. 



The same year Jewett reported a few sheep remaining on the 

 headwaters of the Minum River and on the divide toward Aneroid 

 Lake. One sheepman told him of seeing 13 head in July of that 

 year, and another had seen their tracks on the trail between East 

 Eagle Creek and the Minum. Further information indicated a 

 small bunch of sheep ranging on the rough divide between the 

 canyons of the Imnaha and the Snake Rivers east of the Cloverdale 

 crossing. 



In 1924 the Forest Service reported 45 and in 1925, 43 sheep on 

 the Wallowa National Forest. In 1927 Jewett estimated a possible 

 number of 50 sheep in this last herd in the State. 



In 1927 the Forest Service reported 40 on the Wallowa National 

 Forest; in 1928, 45; in 1929, 50; in 1930, 60; in 1931, 61; in 1932, 60; 

 and in 1933, 50. 



An effort was made to protect these remnants of vanishing species, 

 and a State game preserve was created to include the scattered 

 bands, but it was later abandoned. 



The Wilderness area, recently established by the Forest Service 

 to include the higher part of the Wallowa Mountains, may serve 

 to rescue these splendid animals from extermination if it does not 

 encourage an overabundance of mountain lions and bobcats, their 

 greatest enemies next to man. Coyotes, too, will penetrate to the 

 open country above timber line in the hope of feasting on mountain 

 mutton, but with a proper check on predatory species it should be 

 possible to bring back the bighorns to adorn again these inspiring 

 mountains. 



Their summer range is practically all on the Wallowa and Whit- 

 man National Forests, but in winter they descend to the canyon 

 walls of the Snake River and Imnaha Canyons, where especial pro- 

 tection should be afforded and careful restrictions provided to keep 

 them from contracting diseases of domestic sheep. With proper 

 management this last remnant of one of Oregon's most valuable and 

 interesting forms of big game could be increased and extended to 

 other suitable areas in the State. Left alone to take their chances 

 the end will soon be, as in the rimrock sheep, complete disappearance. 



OVIS CANADENSIS CALIFORNIANA DOUGLAS 



RIMROOK SHEEP; LAVA-BED SHEEP; TSNOOI* of the Warm Springs Indians at 

 The Dalles ; QUOIPA of the Piute at Burns 



Ovis califomianus Douglas, Zool. Jour. 4 : 332, 1829. 



Type locality. "Falls of the Columbia", near the mouth of the Deschutes 

 River. 



General characters. Size about the same as canadensis, horns generally 

 more spreading and open, less closely coiled (pi. 17), upper molar series longer 

 and heavier, nasal bones averaging wider. Coloration unknown except from im- 

 mature and much-faded skins from the Steens Mountains, but these show 

 extensive areas of white which with the general pale colors suggest the desert 



