400 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



mestic congener. It is much taller, fuller, and more spirit- 

 ed in action than the latter, and all its movements are char- 

 acterized by a lithe grace, a rapidity of movement, and a 

 prompt agility that the farm-yard variety never possessed. 

 The height of a full-grown male varies from thirty-four to 

 forty-one inches; length, from forty-four to sixty inches; 

 length of caudal vertebrae, from one and a half to three 

 inches; and length of face, from base of horns to tip of 

 nose, from ten to twelve inches. The heavy recurved 

 horns which adorn both sexes also make a marked differ- 

 ence between it and the domestic species; and in place of 

 long, fine, and soft wool, it is covered with coarse tubular 

 hair of a yellowish brown color, which changes to a dull 

 line of white on the posterior side of the fore and hind 

 legs, and to a white patch on the flanks and abdomen. The 

 outer hair, which resembles somewhat that of the caribou 

 and antelope in character, is not very coarse to the touch, 

 and the inner is fine and soft. The coat changes according 

 to the seasons, being lighter in the winter and spring than 

 in the summer. Some old males are almost hoary in early 

 spring, owing to the rubbing away of the black tips of the 

 hair; and when in that condition they looked like grizzled 

 veterans. The horns of the latter are magnificent append- 

 ages, and well worthy to adorn the finest dining-halls. They 

 measure along the curve from thirty to thirty-eight inches, 

 and, in rare instances, even forty-two inches ; their circum- 

 ference at the base varies from ten to fifteen inches ; and 

 the width between the tip of one to that of its fellow 

 ranges from sixteen to twenty-seven inches. I have found 

 the measurement of several horns examined to vary much, 

 but it was generally in their length and distance apart; 

 the difference in their circumference at the base, when full 

 grown, seldom exceeding three inches. The hollow part of 

 the horn of a large ram will hold two gallons of fluid ; but 

 it is so inconvenient and awkward that even the Indians 

 rarely use it as a water vessel. 



The males sometimes attain a weight of three hundred 

 and fifty pounds, but the average lies between two and 



