OF THE AMERICANS. 



309 



quainted. The blackness of the horns, compared 

 with the whiteness of the wool, may also be men- 

 tioned, though, in other circumstances, unworthy of 

 notice. The legs, too, of this skin, are covered 

 with longer and coarser hair than what is to be 

 found on those of the common sheep. The horns 

 resemble those of a common goat, more than of 

 a sheep, in regard to position, colour, and texture. 

 But the goats horns are flat on the under part, 

 ' or that next the neck, so as to form the side of a 

 pyramid. In other respects they are conical. The 

 horns of the Rocky Mountain Sheep are com- 

 pletely conical, and in shape resemble the horns of 

 an ox more than those of either a goat or any of 

 the varieties of sheep. 



There is another circumstance of apparent resem- 

 blance to the goat, which may be noticed. The 

 skin exhibited has a ridge of hair along the back, 

 considerably longer than the general covering, 

 which is continued up the neck, in the form of a 

 mane, thicker and longer than that on the back. 

 It has also a thick long beard, and a space on each 

 quarter covered with long shaggy hair. In these 

 particulars, there is a resemblance to the male of 

 the common goat ; and I think it probable the 

 skin belongs to the male sex. In the length of the 

 neck, compared with that of the body, there is also 

 a resemblance to the common goat. But, in all 

 these points of resemblance, there are specific diffe- 

 rences, which a comparison would best illustrate. 



