106 THE BIGHORN, OR MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 



their habits, and in frequenting the most lofty and inaccessible 

 regions, whence, except in the severest weather, they seldom 

 descend to the upland valleys. In size the bighorn is between 

 the domestic sheep and the common red-deer of America, but 

 is more strongly built than the latter. It is of a brownish- 

 dun colour, with a somewhat white streak on the hind-quarters. 

 The tail is shorter than that of the deer, and tipped with 

 black. As the age of the animal increases, the coat becomes 

 of a darker tinge. The horns, of the male especially, are of 

 great size, curving backwards about three feet in length, and 

 twenty inches in circumference at the roots. 



Frequently on the highest spot one of the band is stationed 

 as a sentinel, and whilst the others are feeding he looks out 

 for the approach of danger. They have even more acute sight 

 and smell than the deer. On an alarm being given the whole 

 herd scampers up the mountain, higher and higher, every now 

 and then halting on some overhanging crag and looking down 

 on the object which may have caused them alarm ; then once 

 more they pursue their ascent, and as they bound up the steep 

 sides of the mountains throw down an avalanche of rocks and 

 stones. 



Occasionally the young lambs are caught and domesticated 

 by the hunters in their mountain homes, when they become 

 greatly attached to their masters, amusing them by their 

 merry gambols and playful tricks. Attempts have been made 

 to transport them to the States ; but although milch-goats have 

 been brought to feed the lambs, they have suffered by the 

 change from the pure air of the mountains to the plains, or 

 they have not taken kindly to their foster-mothers, and have 

 invariably perished on the journey. 



The creatures reach a height of three feet six inches at the 



