32: 



AMERICAN SHEEP 



CHAP. XI 



7 inches, and height 3 feet 10 inches. The horns of this fine 

 Sheep may measure more than five feet round the curves. 

 The Eocky Mountain Bighorn {0. montana) is a Sheep ranging 

 along the Eockies as far south as New ilexico, and also to the 

 far north ; they are not confined to the chain of mountains 

 mentioned, but occur also on the mountains of British Columbia 

 down to those of California. The horns are not quite as large 



j Iinl):> 



Fig. 171. — Himalayan Burrhel Sheep. Ovis burrhel. x ^V. CFiom JVature.) 



as those of the last species, but measurements give a length 

 (along the curve) of 32 to 40 inches. 



Just as the Goats are often lindted to islands and small 

 stretches of country, so are the Sheep. Thus Cyprus has a 

 species, 0. ophion, peculiar to itself This, which is known as 

 the Cyprus Mouflon, is limited to a range of mountains, the 

 Troodos, in that island. In 1878 it was believed that the 

 animal was nearly exterminated, a flock of twenty-five members 

 alone surviving. They have, however, since increased. Confined 



