MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 121 



The current is here shut in by banks of perpendicular rock, four or five 

 hundred feet high, which sometimes overhangs it, and leave a narrov^ space 

 of scarcely two hundred feet for its bed. These consist principally of 

 white cretaceous sandstone, soft and friable, and frequently present to view 

 the appearance of regular mason-work. 



During our stay we succeeded in killing five mountain sheep. Some of 

 these were very large and quite fat. 



The flesh of this animal is equal in flavor to that of buflalo. It is gener- 

 ally in good order, tender and sweet, and slightly assimilates our common 

 mutton in taste. 



The habits and appearance of mountain sheep resemble those of no 

 other animal. 



They select for their favorite habitation the rugged fastnesses of wild and 

 inaccessible mountains. In the cold of winter, they descend to some of 

 the numerous valleys that so beautifully diversify the scenery of these re- 

 gions, where the verdure of spring so rarely fades ; and, as the warm sea- 

 son advances, they commence their return towards the lofty snow- 

 peaks, keeping even progress v/ith spring and fresh flowers along the 

 mountain-sides. 



Theirs is a life of unbroken spring — beauty and grandeur are their 

 dwelling place, — and, 'mid the awe-inspiring sublimity of nature's works, 

 is their home. They gambol upon the fearful verge of the steep clifl", or 

 climb its perpendicular sides, bidding defiance to all pursuerg. There, 

 secure from enemies, they rear their young, and teach them to leap from 

 crag to crag in mirthful gaiety, or traverse the dizzy heights in quest of the 

 varied sweets of changeful spring. 



These animals are remarkably acute of sight, and quick of socnt and 

 hearing. The least noise or tainture of the air excites their attention and 

 places them instantly upon the alert. Mounting upon some high rock, 

 they will stand for hours in the same posture, gazing in the direction of 

 the fancied danger. If fully satisfied of its reality, they abandon their 

 position for another and a safer one, high among more rugged peaks, and 

 often beyond the possibility of offensive approach. Their hue is so akin 

 to that of the rocks which grace their range, they are with difficulty 

 identified when standing motionless, and the hunter is constantly liable to 

 mistake the one for the other. 



In size the mountain sheep is larger than the domestic animal of that 

 name, and its general appearance is in every respect dissimilar — excepting 

 the head and horns. The latter appendage, however, alike belongs to the 

 male and female. The horns of the female are about six inches long, 

 email, pointed, and somewhat flat, — but those of the male grow to an enor- 

 mous size. 1 have frequently killed them having horns that measured two 

 feet and a half or three feet in length, and from eighteen to nineteen inches 

 in circumference at the base. 



These ponderous members are of great service to their owner in descend- 

 ing the abrupt precipices, which his habits so often render necessary. In 

 leaping from an elevation he uniformly strikes upon the curve of his horns, 

 and thus saves himself from the shock of a sudden and violent contussion. 

 The color of tiiese animals varies from a yellowish white, to a dark 



