THE SHEEP. 



Wolves and Vultures devouring a Rocky Mountain Sheep. 



The American Argal, or 

 Rocky Mountain Sheep is 

 found in the Rocky Mountains 

 of North America, from the 

 neighborhood of the Arctic re- 

 gions to that of California. 

 They collect in flocks from 

 three to thirty; the young 

 rams and the females herding 

 together during the winter and 

 spring, while the old rams form 

 separate flocks, except during 

 certain seasons. When the 

 ewes bring forth, they retire 

 to the most inaccessible heights. 

 They are about the size of 

 ordinary Sheep, but their wool, 

 is dissimilar, that on the fore 

 part of the skin having all the 

 apparent qualities of fine wool 

 on the back part much resem- 

 bling cotton, the whole mixed 

 with hairs, and where these are 

 pendant there is little wool : 

 the horns, uncommonly large, 

 in the old rams attain to sucL 



a size, and curve so much forward and downward, as to prevent their feeding on level ground. The horns ol 

 the female are much shorter and slender. The color of the Rocky Mountain Sheep, in summer is generally 

 greyish fawn, with a reddish or yellowish line down the back. In winter the upper parts incline to red. 



The Many-horned Sheep is found in Siberia, and mosi 

 countries of a similar northern latitude. They are rather a 

 small race, but very hardy. The proper breed have their 

 horns very irregular in number, amounting to three, four, or 

 five, standing in different directions, but not forming screws, 

 like the horns of many other Sheep. Their legs are slender, 

 and their hoofs long and sharp, so as to be well adapted foi 

 a footing either on the rocks or on the ice. 



Many-horned Sheep. 



American Argal. 



