MAMMALIA— SHEEP. 



373 



their lambs to the most inaccessible heights. Mr Drummond informs us, 

 that in the retired parts of the mountains, where the hunters had seldom 

 penetrated, he found no difficulty in approaching the Rocky Mountain sheep, 

 which there exhibited the simplicity of character so remarkable in the 

 domestic species ; but that where they had been often fired at, they were 

 exceedingly wild, alarmed their companions on the approach of danger by 

 a hissing noise, and scaled the rocks with a speed and agility that baffled 

 pursuit. He lost several that he had m.ortally wounded, by their retiring 

 to die amongst the secluded precipices. 



Their favorite feeding places, are grassy knolls, skirted by craggy rocks, 

 to which they can retreat, when pursued by dogs or Avolves. They are 

 accustomed to pay daily visits to certain caves in the mountains, that are 

 encrusted with a saline efflorescence, of which they are fond. These caves 

 are situated in slaty rocks. Mr Drummond says, that the horns of the old 

 rams attain a size so enormous, and curve so much forwards and down- 

 wards, that they effectually prevent the animal from feeding on level 

 ground. Its flesh is said by those who have fed on it, to be quite delicious 

 when it is in season, far superior to that of any of the deer species which 

 frequent the same quarter, and even exceeding in flavor the finest English 

 mutton. 



The missionaries who first discovered the Rocky Mountain sheep, describe 

 it correctly as possessing the hair and the horns of the ram ; and M. Geoffroy 

 has also briefly characterized it as having the head of sheep, with the body 



