454 Roosevelt JVild Life Bulletin 



eastern portion of the Park, where many mountain sheep skeletons 

 He bleaching, supposedly those of victims of the scab epidemic. This 

 epidemic was apparently at its height in 191 6. We heard also that 

 some of the animals were captured and transported in wagons to a 

 dipping vat. and dipped. Most of the sheep dipped were said to 

 have died, whether from scab or fright seemed to be a question. 

 The animals that came under my observation in 1921 were in excel- 

 lent pelage, and, so far as I could see, were free from disease. I 

 regret that I had no opportunity to make a careful study of the 

 problem of the disappearance of the sheep, or to check the authen- 

 ticity of the rumors mentioned above. I believe that a careful inves- 

 tigation of the matter by a naturalist of experience would give us 

 material by which to plan means to help them regain their normal 

 numbers. I understand .that domestic sheep may no longer be driven 

 through the Park on account of the danger of transmitting their 

 diseases to their wild relatives. But the native species will always 

 be exposed to infection because of the fact that lone bighorn rams 

 occasionally join flocks of domestic sheep for a few weeks at a time. 

 Nevertheless, exposure to such infection should be cut down to a 

 minimum. 



Bighorn sheep are a source of much interest to tourists w^ho motor 

 or tramp over Mount W^ashburn, where a small band or two are 

 occasionally seen from the roadside. One of their favorite ranges, 

 except in midsummer when they usually seek the high and inac- 

 cessible peaks, is along the rim of the Grand Canyon near Tower 

 Fall (fig. 91 j. It was at this point that President Roosevelt and 

 John Burroughs camped in April, 1903, and watched the mountain 

 sheep descend the canyon precipices to the river 600 feet below. 

 John Burroughs has related their experiences most interestingly in 

 his book entitled Camping and Tramping unth Roosevelt. 



The bighorns of the Yellowstone make excellent subjects for the 

 skillful camera hunter (fig. 92),* for they are equally picturesque 

 in the storms of winter or amid the mountain crags of their summer 

 home. 



The old rams which I encountered in the snow late in November 

 were exceedingly fearless and unconcerned, more trustful even than 

 horses and cattle ffigs. 94, 95). These old fellows have an air of 

 great solemnity and dignity, and their massive horns and heavy 

 bodies give them an appearance of great strength and determination, 

 the reputation for the latter quality, however, seldom being deserved. 



* This photograph was awarded third prize in the exhibition of mammal pictures held 

 at the American Museum in New York City, May, 1922. 



