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CHAPTEE XIV. 



MOUNTAIN SHEEP BIG-HORN. 



(Ovis montana.) 



THIS splendid animal, which among the horned beasts of 

 the Great West ranks next in size to the elk, can scarcely 

 be called a native of the plains. His home is among 

 crags and broken rocks, generally at an elevation above 

 tide-water of not less than 5,000 feet. 



It must be remembered, however, that the plains 

 proper rise to an altitude of 8,000 or 9,000 feet above the 

 sea level, and their surface is cut with many huge canons 

 and deep barrancas, and torn and broken into confused 

 and tumbling crags, forming congenial homes for many 

 animals usually inhabitants of only mountainous regions. 



I have designated as ' the plains ' all the non-primary 

 country between the Mississippi and the Eocky Mountains. 

 Many portions of this section would be considered grandly 

 mountainous were they not overshadowed and dwarfed 

 by the real mountains in the background. 



The mountain sheep appears to care very little whether 

 he lives among primary or secondary rocks, provided they 

 be sufficiently elevated and torn and jagged enough to 

 suit his fastidious taste. 



In 1868, when the position now known as ' Fort 

 Fred Steele ' was first occupied by troops, the adjacent 

 country more abounded in game than any I have ever 

 seen. Elk, black-tail deer, and antelope were to be had 

 at any time, and mountain sheep were far more plentiful 

 than in any locality I have ever visited. I have frequently 



