PRAIRIE WOLF AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 21 



whence it seldom descends to the valleys. Its color is a 

 brownish dun, with a whitish streak on its hind quarters 

 the tail being tipped with black. The horns of the male 

 are enormous, curved backward, and often three feet in 

 length, with a circumference of twenty inches near the 

 head. The cimaron makes tremendous leaps down preci- 

 pices, invariably alighting on its horns. Their senses are 

 very acute, and sentinels are always on the watch, so 

 that it is difficult to get within rifle-shot of them. I had 

 read of the chamois hunts in the Alps ; but I did not 

 believe that the chase of that swift animal was attended 

 with a great deal more danger and excitement than 

 hunting the cimaron. 



One day, I got within rifle-shot of a cimaron, in a 

 rather singular way. I was leaning against a steep rock, 

 a considerable distance up the mountain, and enjoying a 

 smoke. Happening to scent a peculiar odor, I looked up 

 and was surprised to perceive four cimarons not far above 

 me. I noiselessly grasped my rifle; but the motion, 

 slight as it was, was sufficient to alarm the animals, and 

 with a loud bleat they dashed up the mountain at so rapid 

 a rate that all attempts to get a good shot were vain. 

 When, however, they reached a little plateau about a 

 hundred and fifty yards from where I stood, they sud- 

 denly stopped, and approaching the edge, looked down 

 at me. As soon as I saw them stop, I lifted up my rifle. 



