IV THE BIG GAME OF ALASKA 67 



Sheep and White Goat 



Perhaps the most highly prized animals from the sports- 

 man's point of view to be found in Alaska are the mountain 

 sheep, of which there are three forms at present known in 

 the country. They have been named as follows : — 

 Ovis cialli, Ovis fannini, and Ovis stonei. 

 All three are distinct from the typical Rocky Mountain 

 sheep, Ovis canadensis. 



Ovis stonei, which is named after its discoverer, Mr. A. J. 

 Stone, was first found by him on the mountains near the 

 upper waters of the Stikine River. It probably merges in 

 the south with the Rocky Mountain sheep, and how far north 

 or into the interior of Alaska it extends is not yet accurately 

 known. 



It is darker in colour than either of the other two 

 forms found in Alaska, and from all accounts has slightly 

 larger horns. But I am unable to give any record measure- 

 ments of them from personal knowledge. 



Ovis fannini inhabits the interior of the country in the 

 neighbourhood of Dawson, and I have seen a few specimens 

 of this sheep. The horns which I have seen seem to have 

 a slightly greater outward curve and are wider between the 

 points than those of Ovis dalli — more, in fact, like the head of 

 the Kamschatkan bighorn, Ovis nivicola. 



The sheep itself is white, with the exception of a dark 

 patch running from the back of the neck and along the 

 centre of the back. 



Ovis dalli is by far the most numerous of the three forms. 

 These sheep are very plentiful on the mountains of the 

 Kenai Peninsula, and all along the head of Cook's Inlet. 

 They are reported to be much larger in the neighbourhood of 



