ANIMALS. 



The female does not differ materially from the 

 male, except that her size is much less, and she has 

 only a small black straight horn, like the goat. The 

 colour and texture of the hair is the same in both, 

 and they are all distingilished by the white rump and 

 dark tail. In other respects the female greatly re- 

 sembles the sheep in her general figure, and particu- 

 larly in the timid, good natured cast of the counte- 

 nance. In winter they frequent the southern de- 

 clivity of the mountains, to enjoy the sun-shine ; the 

 lower regions and the valleys, at that season, beinp; 

 covered with a great depth of snow. 



The flesh of the female and of the young male is a 

 great dainty ; for my own part, I think much more 

 delicate than any other kind of venison ; and the In- 

 dians, who live entirely on animal food, and must be 

 epicures in the choice of flesh, agree, that the flesh of 

 the 7ny -attic is the sweetest feast in the forest.* 



The existence of a native species of sheep, in 

 North America, is thus,*' says Dr. Barton, suffici- 

 ently established. But it stillremains to be ascertained, 

 whether it be a species fieculiar to this continent, or 

 one common to it and the Old World. If the moun-™ 

 tain ram shall prove to be the argali, we shall thus 

 have increased the list of quadrupeds that are com- 

 mon to the (31d and New World ; we shall have ren- 

 dered it more probable (and at present it is highly 

 probable), that the continents of Asia and North 

 America were formerly joined; and that many of 

 the quadrupeds, as v/ell as the human species passed 

 from the former into the latter portion of the 

 world." 



* Med. Repcr,» vc!. vr.. 



