CONTENTS. 13 



use in stalking. — Trophies and Tramping. — Opinion of an old Hunter 

 on Goat-shooting. — A successful Stalker's Faculties. — Charging Goats. 

 —The use of Dogs in hunting them Page 381 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE BIG-HORN, OR MOUNTAIN SIIEEP. 



The Big-horn, or Mountain Sheep. — Its Haunts and Hahits. — Character- 

 istics required to Hunt it successfully. — Its Caution and Vigilance. — 

 Order of a Flock in Flight. — Hunters' Tales of its Nimbleness. — Pug- 

 nacity of the Males. — Contest between a Wolf and a Big-horn. — Size of 

 Rams. — Measurement of Horns. — The Rutting Season. — Flocks of Old 

 Rams. — Best Time for Hunting them.— Stalking Exercise. — A good 

 Rifle. — Usefulness of a Field-glass. — Indian "Sheep-eaters." — Pemmi- 

 can.— My First Hunt.— A Kill.— Stalk a Flock.— Detected.— The As- 

 sembly. — Result of a Fusillade. — Tedious Chase after an Old Ram. — I 

 get Butted over. — A tardy Capture. — Flavor of wild Mutton Cutlets. 

 — Dogs for Sheep-hunting. — A Hunt in the War Eagle Mountains. — Our 

 Success. — A Cougar scared. — "Dancing" Sheep. — Big-horns waiting 

 for their Leader. — Adventure of the Guide with a War-party of Indians. 

 — Defeat of the Latter 394 



CHAPTER XV. 



Foxes very Numerous in the West. — Hunting-clubs. — Various Species 

 and Varieties of Foxes. — Difference between the American and the 

 European Red Fox. — Size, Color, Characteristics, and Value of Fur of 

 the Prairie, Cross, Black, Silver, Swift, and Arctic Foxes. — Difference 

 between the Red and the Gray Fox. — The Latter trees, but rarely runs 

 to Earth. — A true Woodland Animal. — Its Food. — Is being superseded 

 by the Red Species. — The Dwarf or Island Fox. — Lives on Insects. — 

 Fearlessness and Numbers. — Cause of its Diminutive Size. — Value of 

 Fox-skins in Commerce 418 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Hares. — Their Abundance. — The "Jack Rabbit." — Mark Twain's Opin- 

 ion of its Speed. — Marvellous Tales of Pioneers. — What constitutes an 

 Oregon Mule. — Coursing - clubs. — California Greyhounds. — Character- 

 istics of the Water-hare. — Swims like a Retriever. — How it escapes its 

 Pursuers. — The Swamp-hare. — Its Peculiar Appearance. — Measure- 

 ments. — The Washington, Prairie, California, Wood, and Sage Hares, 

 and the Smaller Varieties. — Peculiar Character of Baird's Rabbit. — The 

 Males suckle the Young. — Dissection by a Surgeon. — How Indians and 

 Whites capture Hares 426 



