290 THE SHEEP AND ITS COUSINS 



the former, while the horns are larger and less 

 massive. 



The fifth race, O. c. nelsoni, described by Dr. 

 MerriamMn 1907, is typically from the Grapevine 

 Mountains, on the boundary between southern 

 Nevada and California ; its whole range extending 

 from the mountains of southern Nevada to southern 

 California and the northern border of Lower Cali- 

 fornia. In the original description it is stated to be 

 apparently very similar in the arrangement of the 

 colouring to the under-mentioned stonei, but much 

 paler, with the rump-patch small and completely 

 divided by a dark stripe in the middle line, the tail 

 short and slender, and the cheek-teeth relatively 

 small. 



The general colour of the upper-parts, exclusive 

 of the rump-patch, is pale dingy brown ; the under- 

 parts and legs being much darker, and contrasting 

 sharply with the white areas. 



The bighorn of the Sierra Nevada was named 

 O. c. sierrcB by Mr. J. GrinnelP in 191 2, and is 

 stated to resemble O. c. nelsoni in general characters, 

 but to be of larger size, with shorter ears and tail, 

 a thicker and greyer coat, and the section of the 

 horns less distinctly triangular. The coldness of 

 its habitat accounts, of course, for the greater 



' Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. xi. p. 217. 

 • Zoological Publications of California University, vol. x. p. 144, 

 1912. 



