214 UNGULATES. 



characteristic of these species is to be found in their horns, which, while very large 

 and massive, are distinguished by the slight development of the wrinkles on their 

 anterior surface, and the great prominence of the outer anterior angle, and the 

 rounding-off of the inner one. In the skull the depression for the gland below the 

 eye is extremely shallow ; and both in this respect and in the smoothness of their 

 horns, these species show an approximation to the goats. 



American The American wild sheep is a large animal, with the summer 



Wild Sheep. coa t o f a light brown colour, often showing a reddish tinge, while in 

 winter it is bluish grey on the upper-parts. The under-parts, as well as portions 

 of the legs, are white ; and there is a large and conspicuous white patch on the 

 rump, which extends upwards on either side of the tail. The back has a more or 

 less distinct dark stripe, reaching to the tail ; the latter being very short, and 



SKULL OF KAMSCHATKAN WILD SHEEP. (From Guillemard's Cruise of the Marckesa.)^ 



black in colour. The end of the muzzle is light-coloured. Beneath the hair there 

 is a shining white under- wool. Very old males may become very light coloured 

 throughout. The rams attain a height of about 3 \ feet at the withers ; and their 

 average weight is about 350 Ibs., or rather less. The ewes stand about 3 feet in 

 height, and weigh about a third less than the rams. The length of horns in good 

 specimens, measured along the curve, varies from 33 to 36, or even 40 and 41 

 inches ; the broken tips frequently rendering them shorter than they would be, if 

 perfect. A horn measuring 33 inches in length had a basal girth of 16 inches ; 

 while in one belonging to Mr. Otho Shaw, of which the length is 40 inches, the 

 basal girth is only 15 J inches. 



. . According to Mr. G. O. Shields, the geographical range of the 



American wild sheep extends from Mexico to Alaska, and from the 



eastern flanks of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast ; although there are 



some mountain ranges within this area upon which it has never been observed. 



Along the valleys of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers it extends, however, some 



1 We are indebted to Dr. Guillemard and Mr. Murray for this figure, and also for the one of the head of the 

 same species. 



