328 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



white throughout, except the hoofs, horns, lips, and the margins 

 of the nostrils, which are black, so that it is a true denizen of 

 the snow-peaks in line. 



Its nose is strongly ovine ; the cars are pointed, and lined 

 with long hair; the eyes are small, and are evidently intended 

 more for length and intensity of vision than a broad range ; 

 and the limbs are thick, short, strong, and sinewy. It has no 

 tear-bag or muffle, so that it bears no resemblance to the deer 

 family in that characteristic. The horns, which are about six 

 or eight inches long, and are " ringed" half-way upward from 

 the base, are sharp-pointed, somewhat recurved at the upper 

 extremities, and of a darkish hue. The hoofs, which are full 

 in outline and very hard, arc of a deep black colour, and 

 are deeply grooved on the soles; and the small posterior hoofs 

 do not touch the ground. 



Its range, so far as my knowledge goes, extends from Southern 

 California to Alaska, and from the Cascade and Sierra Nevada 

 Ranges to the Rocky Mountains, these mighty chains seeming 

 to check its habitat on the west aixl east. It is much more 

 alpine in its character than the big-horn, and frequents regions 

 which the latter seldom visits. It is a daring climber, a nimble 

 leiipcr, and bounds over crags and dangerous places that 

 nothing less than a bird could apparently attempt with safety. 

 It loves the higher pinnacles, where the daintiest vegetation 

 grows, and where nothing but the eagle, snowy ptarmigan, 

 and a few small creatures arc its companions. 



It generally moves in flocks of from a dozen to fifty, but 

 the former number is the most common, as one leader is sufli- 

 cient, and therefore any combats to decide which is to be com- 

 mander is prevented. The young, which generally number 

 two at a birth, are brought forth early in June amidst the 

 lower ranges, say from five to six thousand feet in height, and 

 when they are old enough to leap about briskly their faithful 

 guardians lead them to the higher peaks, where they are safe 

 from nearly all foes except man or the daring eagle. They 

 seldom fall a prey to prowling bear or panther, owing to the 

 facility with which the latter can procure food in the wooded 

 regions below; hence they have few enemies to disturb the 



