ZOOLOGY. 
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goat, common to both the Rocky and Cascade mountains, and is wooly, somewhat like the 
domestic sheep. The fact that the explorers above mentioned had only seen shins accounts for 
their imperfect descriptions, as well as for the inconsistent accounts they give of their horns. 
There is a curious story, common among mountain men, that in leaping from precipices it 
alights on its horns and rebounds without injury! I have never heard of this species in 
California, though they may exist in the Sierra Nevada. The Yakimas and Snoqualme 
Indians get then in the Cascade mountains, north of the Columbia, in latitude 47° 30'. They 
were formerly, if not now, abundant on Mount Hood.—See Lewis and Clarke’s narrative.—G. 
I have obtained several hunters’ skins of the mountain goat from the localities north of the 
Columbia river mentioned by Mr. Gibbs. Mr. Craig, an old Indian trader, and at present 
United States Indian agent, among the Nez Perces, says that these animals are quite abundant 
in the mountains near the Kooskooskia and Salmon rivers, streams which empty into Snake 
river, and that in the country of the Nez Perces, about forty miles from his residence, they are 
found in great numbers on the bald hills and bare mountains of the locality, and that upon these 
they can be seen from a great distance feeding in “ large droves.” He says that the male is 
white , the female similar but tinged with yellow , and that the horns are strong and of a beautiful 
jet black. 
I have seen dozens of hunters’ skins of these animals in the lodges of the Indians on 
Whidby’s island, Puget Sound. They were obtained from the Indians living about Mount 
Baker in the Cascade range. Skins obtained by the late Lieutenant John Nugen and myself 
are now in the Smithsonian collection.—S. 
OYIS MONTANA, Cuv. 
Bighorn; Mountain Sheep. 
Baird, Gen Rep , Mammals, p. 673. 
The Bighorn Sheep .—There are several rocky prominences in northern California which, 
among the old hunters and trappers, have the name of “Sheep rocks,” where the bighorn 
exists, or did exist until recently. One of these lies to the north and east of Shasta butte, (or 
Mount Shasta,) in the range bordering Shasta valley on the east. Another locality is a singular 
and conspicuous point between Scott and Shasta valleys. It also exists, I am told, in the 
recesses of the Cascade mountains, but of this fact, or of its being found in the Olympic (Coast) 
range in Washington Territory, I am uncertain. The natives of the northwest coast north of 
54° 40' make spoons from a substance which I suppose to be their horns, and if so, they 
undoubtedly exist as far north as that point. An old trapper told me that he had once 
Avitnessed an encounter between a bighorn and a black bear, in which the latter was worsted 
and had to retreat, the ram having knocked him doAvn three times.—G. 
The Mountain Sheep, (Tinoon of the Walla-Wallas?) is said to be found on Mount Hood, 
near Fort Dalles, Oregon. I once saw a large horn in use as a plaything by some Indian 
children at the Dalles, which appeared to belong to this animal, but was much smaller than is 
common. I have eaten the mutton killed in the Rocky mountains, west of the dividing ridge, 
within the limits of Washington Territory. The flesh is very good, tasting much like the 
mutton of tame sheep, having the same peculiar flavor, only a little stronger. They are said 
to abound in the Black Hills and “Mauvaises Terres of Nebraska.”—S. 
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