WILD SHEEP OF ASIA AND AMERICA 295 



of the Chioni Mountains in the Stikine district of 

 northern British Columbia, in which the colour of 

 the upper-parts is blackish brown, while the white 

 of the lower surface is very pure and sharply 

 defined. 



Some years ago Mr. W. H. Osgood^ wrote to 

 the following effect in regard to the gradation from 

 the white to the black bighorn : — 



" In the Alaskan Range and the mountains of 

 the Kenai Peninsula the bighorns are practically 

 white throughout, although some show a tinge of 

 brown on the tail. Somewhat further south and 

 east, however, the tail becomes distinctly brownish, 

 while the back and sides show a sprinkling of 

 dusky hairs, forming an indistinct dark mantle, 

 although in general character these sheep are 

 essentially white, some being indistinguishable from 

 those of the Kenai Peninsula. In specimens from 

 Coal Creek the dusky area is somewhat increased, 

 and pure white individuals are fewer, the tail being 

 blackish brown, and the dark tint often extending 

 forward a short distance along the middle line of 

 the back, while in certain individuals the dark hairs 

 form a more or less definite stripe down the front 

 of the fore-legs. Still, the general effect, particularly 

 at a distance of a few yards, is that of a white 

 animal, although the blackish tail is often noticeable, 

 even in the case of a flock in the field. Next 



' North American Fauna, No. 39, Washington. 



