196 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



brown, and a narrow brown line, extending from its base, 

 runs up betwixt the white buttocks, to unite with the brown 

 colour of the back. The colours reside in the ends of the 

 hair, and as these are rubbed off, during the progress of the 

 winter, the tints become paler. The old rams are almost 

 totally white in the spring." 



One of the first accounts we have of the Argali being 

 found in America, is given by Father Piccolo, who estab- 

 lished a mission in California, in 1697, about two centuries 

 after the discovery of America, he says " Two sorts of deer 

 are found here that we know nothing of; we call them sheep, 

 because they somewhat resemble ours in make. The first 

 sort is as large as a calf one or two years old ; its head is 

 much like that of a stag, and its horns, which are very large, 

 are like those of a ram; its tail and hair are speckled, and 

 shorter than a stag's ; but its hoof is large, round, and cleft 

 as an ox's. The other sort of sheep, some of which are 

 white and the others black, differ less from ours. They are 

 larger, and have good deal more wool, which is very good, 

 and easy to be spun and wrought." This description of 

 the Californian animal was followed by those of Hernandez, 

 Clavighiero, and Vanegas, the latter of whom gives a figure 

 which, though defective, is evidently meant for an Argali; 

 he states that it is about the bigness of a calf a year and a 

 half old, which it greatly resembles in figure, except in its 

 head, which is like that of a deer ; this author agrees with 

 Piccolo, in saying that its skin is spotted. From this it 

 would appear, that the Californian animal, though an Argali, 

 is different from the species under consideration, which is 

 never so, according to the recent authors who have spoken 

 of it; in fact Mr. Douglass has described it under the name 

 of O. californica. 



Although many skins were sent to Europe by the fur tra- 

 ders, and the existence of a quadruped of the sheep kind 

 among the high lands of western America was not denied; the 

 first clear history of it, is owing to Mr. D. M'Gillivray; this 

 will be found in the 6th vol. of the New York Medical 

 Repositor}^, with an indifferent wood cut. This gentleman 

 also sent a specimen to New York, where it remained for 

 some time, in the Museum of Mr. Savage, and was after- 

 wards, it is stated by Dr. Richardson, transmitted to France, 

 and a description and figure of it inserted in the Annates du 

 Mustuin, by JVI. Geoffrey. 



Some time after this, Lewis and Clark procured speci- 

 mens of both male and female, which are now in the Phi- 

 ladelphia Museum. From these our present illustration is 

 partly taken, though from the decayed and discoloured state 

 of them, we have also availed ourselves of Landseer's 

 sketch, (from individuals in the Museum of the Zoological 

 Society of London,) contained in Richardson's fauna. It 

 may be well to mention, that the figures in Griffith's Ani- 



mal Kingdom, and Godman's Natural History, were also 

 drawn from Lewis and Clark's specimens. The last account 

 we have of this interesting animal, is furnished, as before- 

 mentioned, by Dr. Richardson. 



The American Argali inhabits the mountainous regions 

 of country situated in the western part of North America, 

 not occurring further eastward than the delivity of the 

 Rocky mountains. They generally frequent the highest 

 parts of this chain which produce any vegetation, but some- 

 times descend to feed in the valleys, though on the least 

 alarm, they fly for shelter to their native precipices, where 

 the hunter finds it difficult to follow them. Mr. Drum- 

 mond informed Dr. Richardson, that in the retired parts of 

 the mountains, where they had seldom been alarmed by 

 hunters, that he found but little difficulty in approaching 

 them ; though in spots where they had been often fired at, 

 that they were extremely shy, alarming their companions 

 with a hissing noise, like the Chamois. 



They assemble in flocks consisting of various numbers, 

 though seldom exceeding thirty, the young rams and the 

 females hording together in the winter and spring. The 

 female brings forth in June or July, when she retires with 

 her young to the most inaccessible situations. 



Mr. M'Gillivray says, the appearance of this animal, 

 though rather clumsy, is expressive of great activity and 

 strength, and his agility in traversing the rugged and almost 

 impassable spots he inhabits is truly surprising, bounding 

 from rock to rock, like the Ibex. "Frequently," he con- 

 tinues, "I have been entertained with a view of one of 

 them, looking over the brink of a precipice several hundred 

 yards above my head, scarcely appearing bigger than a 

 crow, and bidding defiance to all approach. These fright- 

 ful situations are quite natural to them. They run up 

 declivities of hard snow or rough ice with facility. Pursu- 

 ing them in these situations, I have been obliged to cut 

 steps with my knife, where they passed without difficulty. 

 Sometimes you think their progress is stopped by a chasm 

 or projecting rock; but if you attempt too near an approach, 

 at one bound they are out of your reach." 



Their favourite places of resort are the grassy knolls, 

 situated amidst craggy rocks, which serve them as retreats 

 when pursued by an enemy. ISIr. Drummond also states, 

 that they are accustomed to pay daily visits to certain caves in 

 the mountains, which afford a saline efflorescence, of which, 

 like most other ruminating animals, they are very fond. 



All those who have eaten of the flesh of these animals, 

 particularly of the female and young male, agree that it is 

 extremely delicate, and preferable to the finest venison; 

 even the Indians, who live entirely on animal food, may 

 be supposed epicures in the choice of flesh, agree that the 

 flesh of the Argali is the sweetest feast in the forest. 



