Article XIV. A NEW SHEEP FROM THE KENAI 

 PENINSULA. 



By J. A. ALLEN. 



Through the various expeditions of Mr. Andrew J. Stone the 

 Museum is in possession of fine series of the forms of Ovis 

 found in northern North America, including the dark form 

 known as Ovis stonei and the light form or White Sheep known 

 as Ovis dalli. 



In 1897 Mr. Stone collected a large series of the latter from 

 the main Rocky Mountains in latitude 66 30', which, while not 

 topotypes, doubtless very nearly represent the typical phase 

 of O. dalli. During the season of 1901 he also obtained a large 

 series of White Sheep from the Kenai Peninsula. As both 

 series are in summer coat, they are strictly comparable. Ovis 

 dalli in summer coat is yellowish white, with the extreme tips 

 of the hairs cinnamon brown, which impart a decided yellowish 

 brown shade to the greater part of the dorsal surface of the 

 animal. In the series from the Kenai Peninsula the general 

 tone of the color throughout is dingy grayish white instead of 

 yellowish white, with the tips of the hair grayish instead of 

 cinnamon. These color differences are probably adventitious, 

 due to earth stains, and therefore not diagnostic. The skull, 

 however, varies in the two forms, so that the Kenai animal 

 is clearly entitled to subspecific separation, and may be called 



Ovis dalli kenaiensis, subsp. nov. 



Type, No. 17609, $ adult, head of Sheep Creek, Kenai Peninsula, 

 July 10, 1901; Andrew J. Stone Expedition. 



Similar in coloration (except from adventitious staining from the soil) 

 and external measurements to true Ovis dalli (specimens from Na- 

 hanna Mountains and main Rocky Mountains, lat. 66), but presenting 

 important cranial differences. Adult male skulls of the two forms 

 have practically the same dimensions and the same proportions, except 

 that the posterior nares in O. dalli kenaiensis are uniformly shorter 

 than in O. dalli, the length in four old males in the former being 59 mm. 

 (58-60) , and in three old males of the latter 67 mm. (65-68) , showing a 

 marked shortening of the post-palatal region in O. d. kenaiensis. This 

 is further indicated by the distance between the base of the paroc- 

 [April, 1902.] [145] 10 



