20 SHORT STALKS 



gray dun as the Oris montana, but the rams are dis- 

 tinguished by the rich dark brown of the shouklers and 

 a black frino;e of lono^er hair below the neck. On either 

 side he bears a conspicuous gray saddle-mark, which some 

 have supposed that nature intended as a target. If so, 

 it is like the false portholes painted on iron forts to 

 deceive the enemy — too far back and too high. The 

 belly is a pure white. His meat is excellent when well 

 hung, but in Fel^ruary very lean. I saw^ no herd of more 

 than twelve. The old rams were sometimes solitary, but 

 more often in small companies by themselves. The young 

 rams were often in the company of the ewes. It seemed 

 to us that there was a preponderance of males, and we 

 were told that tlie shepherds who bring their flocks to 

 the hills in the spring, kill many ewes and kids at that 

 season ; but this disparity may be only apparent, as the 

 ewes are easil}^ missed with the glass. 



He stands about the height of a Southdown sheep, l)ut 

 he carries a head that seems large, out of proportion to liis 

 body. The following are the measurements of our two 

 best heads : 



Length round outer curve . . .29 Sz 28 inches 



Span across horns . . . . . 17 & 21 „ 



Girth of horn at base . . . . 9 & 10 „ 



It will be seen that as regards length and span they 

 are not far inferior to big-horn sheep, Init the girth and 

 weiolit are much less. I had no means of weio^hinir those 

 we o;<3t, but our chamois hunter thouoht the weight of the 

 best about twice that of a large buck chamois, which would 

 brino- it to about 100 lbs. 



