316 HOOFED ANIMALS 



long hair on the chest and fore legs. In one habit at least 

 it is very unlike any of the foregoing members of the 

 family. In the face of danger it prefers to hide rather 

 than take to immediate flight, and as its colour largely 

 approximates to its ordinary surroundings, so long as it 

 lies perfectly still, the hunter can perceive it only with the 

 greatest difficulty. 



The Bighorn (Ovis canadensis) is the American Argali, 

 found chiefly in the Rocky Mountains. It is six inches 

 higher than the Asiatic species, and possesses much the 

 same massive horns. It is stated on good authority that 

 a flock of these animals will not hesitate to leap down a 

 cliff a hundred and fifty feet in height. Hunters experi- 

 ence great difficulty in approaching the Bighorn ; but the 

 Indians fasten horns to their heads, and thus frequently 

 deceive the animals until they are within shooting distance. 

 But the Bighorn is getting increasingly rare, and the time 

 is approaching when hunters, white or red, will cease to 

 count the animal among their spoils. 



FAMILY CAPRA (GOATS). 

 COMMON GOAT (Copra hircus). 

 Coloured Plate XVIII. Fig. 4. 



In the sheep family, and especially the domesticated 

 breeds, the horns curve over the side of the face ; but in 

 the Goats the spiral or curving adornments 

 appear close together just over the eyes, rising 

 upwards with a backward sweep, often to a 

 great length in the males. In some species 

 the horns are absent in both sexes ; in others 

 those of the male are quite unlike those of the 

 female ; and in yet other cases an animal may 

 possess four horns. It should be noted that 



FOOT OF THE ~ ,. 



GOAT. m Goats generally the horns are less cylin- 

 drical than they are in the sheep. Most Goats 

 are bearded ; and all the males are marked by a peculiar, 

 almost offensive, odour, which is given off by a scent gland. 



