OKDER VIII. TIIK KU.MIXAXTIA. 30,3 



each. The hunlcns were swung in bags over tlioh- backs, without any cords 

 to bind theiu vn, and they moved up the steep crags with the greatest niui- 

 blencss and indiflerence to the weight. 



"Tiiey arc cniphjyed for trade, and are made to carry grain from a fertile 

 to a less hap[)y quarter. They travel with surprising cpiickness, and are 

 kept together without the least trouble. A'o four-footed animals but goats 

 and sheep could do this service iu any part of tiie mountains ; and tlic for- 

 mer being too apt to roam, jicrhaps tlie latter are the only ones that can 

 be safely turned to such account." 



0. Blnsinon. — The ^lusmon of Corsica. This singular sheep, now 

 become somewhat rare, inliabits the highest jicaks of tlie mountains in 

 Southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica, European Turkey, and some of the 

 islands of the Archipelago, and in tlie Isle of Cyprus. The general color 

 of the body is yellowish. The horns of tlie male are very large and long, 

 bending backward with an arch which constitutes more than iiaif a circle. 

 " Tlie flocks consist sometimes of a hundred or more, g(}venied by some 

 old and courageous male. In a domestic state the young males and females 

 are docile and gentle; but tlie old males become subject to fits of ill-nature, 

 and sometimes assail children, women, and even men, by butting. 



O. TritfjiAupIius. — Tiic Bearded Argali of Africa. Tlie color of this 

 liandsome animal is a line reddish-yellow. But the most singular character 

 wiiicii this species presents is the hnig hairs whicii garnish tiie anterior parts 

 of its body and legs, hanging down as far as the middle of the sliank, thus 

 forming a very ornamental appendage. It is one fifth larger than tiic 

 common sheep. Sometimes this beautiful animal is called tiie African 

 JNTouflon. 



0. MoiiUimt. — The Argali of America, or Rocky IMountain Sheep. 

 In the Fauna Boreali-Auiericana of Dr. IJichardson we find au excellent 

 description of tiiis animal, a portion of which we suiijuin : — 



"The Ivocky ^louiitain slieep iniiabit tlie lofty chain of mountains, 

 vvliencc they derive their name, from its northern termination in latitude 

 (J8° to about latitude 40^, and most likely still farther south. They also 

 frequent the elevated and craggy ridges, with wiiicli tlie country between 

 the great mountain range and the Pacific is intersected ; but they do not 

 appear to have advanced farther to the eastward than tlie decli\ ity of the 

 liocky Mountains, nor are they found in any of tiie liilly tracts near Hud- 

 son's Bay. They collect in flocks of from tiiree to tliirty, tiie young rams 

 and the females herding together during the winter and spring, while the 

 old rams form separate flocks, except during tlic montli of December, \\ liich 

 is their season of love. Tiie ewes bring fortli in June or July, and tliea 

 retire with tlieir lambs to tlic most inaccessible heiglits. In tlie retired parts 

 KO. v:n. o"J 



