138 DENIZENS OF THE DESERT 



regular time, but slowly splits off and wears 

 away through contact with the brush and rocks 

 (the oldest always going first), there is found at 

 any time the remains of many seasons' horn 

 production, each marked by a ring showing 

 where the cornified growth of the preceding 

 season broke loose at the root as it was pushed 

 outward toward the apex of the horn. Desert 

 sheep are rarely to be found without broken 

 horns. This, according to one authority, is 

 due to the fact that they use them in seasons 

 to drought for prying among the rocks and 

 boulders in search of certain succulent bulbs 

 which serve them as thirst-quenchers until the 

 springs are replenished and flow again. 



Flocks of bighorns must of necessity occupy 

 pretty well-defined areas contiguous to the in- 

 frequently found water-holes and springs. They 

 generally come to the tinajas or tanks to drink 

 in the late afternoon or evening. The waters of 

 the smaller springs are often heavily impreg- 

 nated with mineral salts, but that found in the 

 tanks — as the natural reservoirs of the desert 

 caiions are called — is pure and delicious, the 

 supply being renewed by every rain. These 



