MALE AND FEMALE. 61 



most observable immediately after the animal 

 changes its coat, which happens in July ; 

 they gradually get mixed with the lighter 

 colours as the time for changing again draws 

 on. The female has none of these black 

 marks. The males appear to be several 

 years before they attain their full size, — 

 longer than the generality of wild animals 

 of the same kind. The largest horns Wilson 

 ever saw were thirteen inches m circum- 

 ference at the base, but eleven is the average 

 size of those of a full-grown animal ; they 

 grow with one curve, more like a ram's in 

 shape than any other animal, but the curve is 

 the reverse way : some are more curved than 

 others. For several years the horns are 

 smooth and angular, but when the animal 

 gets old they become rough, cracked, and 

 nearly round. 



The burrell is exclusively confined to the 

 snowy ranges, or the large spurs jutting 

 from them, its favourite resorts being be- 

 tween the verge of forests and the extreme 

 limits of vegetation. Straggling parties are. 



