BIGHORN; MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 



Ovis montana. — Cuvier. 



THE Bighorn is an inhabitant of the mountains of Western 

 America, and is found in greater or less abundance in suita- 

 ble localities from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. It is 

 said to be abundant in New Mexico and Arizona, and occurs in 

 Southern California, but is probably not found in any numbers south 

 of the United States. Its northern range extends as far as Alaska, 

 and it is reported to be more abundant north of the 49th parallel 

 than farther south. Although most numerous in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, the Sierra Nevadas and the Coast Range, this species is by 

 no means confined to the mountains. It occurs also among the 

 rugged Mauvaises Terres or Bad Lands of the White River, the 

 Little Missouri, Yellowstone and Upper Missouri, and seems to 

 delight in these grey, desolate and arid wastes. Indeed, any very 

 rough country answers all the requirements for the Bighorn, and it 

 demands only that there shall be steep and difficult heights to 

 which it may retreat when pursued. 



This species has been aptly described as having the head of a 

 sheep with the body of a deer. In size, however, it exceeds the 

 largest deer, and a full-grown individual is said to weigh three 

 hundred and fifty pounds. The following measurements of an old 

 male are given by Sir John Richardson in his Fauna Boreali Ameri- 

 cana : — Length to end of tail six feet, height at shoulder three feet 

 five inches, length of tail two inches, length of horn along curve 

 two feet ten inches, circumference of horn at base one foot one 

 inch, distance from tip of one horn to tip of its fellow two feet three 

 inches. The female is somewhat less in size than the male, the 

 horns are much smaller and are nearly erect, having but a slight 

 inclination outward and backward. They somewhat resemble the 

 horns of a common goat. The general color of the Mountain 



