ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN.
b. R ocky M ountain R a c eS -O vis c anadensis t y p ic a
Plate X V II.
Characters.— Size large, the height at the shoulder apparently ranging
from about 3 feet 2 inches to 3 feet 6 inches.1 Skull long and narrow.
Horns of adult male (fig. 40) very massive and thick, without a distinct keel
0,1 thc 0uter front edge, and with the spiral short, so that the tips, which
are generally blunt and broken, are directed nearly forwards. Ears broad,
pointed, deer-like, and moderately clothed with hair, being apparently
a trifle larger than in the argalis. No long mane on the back of the head
and,,nape of neck. Caudal disk large and continued on each side of the
dark streak Connecting the back with the tail well on to the upper surface
o f the hind-quarters^' General colour o f upper-parts some shade of grayish-
brown, darkening along the middle line ot the back, where there is a more
or less distinct dark streak ; in winter and spring the prevalent tinge more
decidedly brown, and in autumn more distinctly gray ; old males, at least
in the summer coat, very pale coloured, so that the caudal disk is scarcely
distinguishable from the darker area. The under-parts, the inner and
hinder surfaces of the legs, the buttocks and a streak on each side of the
base of the tail, the chin and muzzle, and a spot on a grayish ground near
the upper part of the throat white or whitish ; face and outer surface-of
ears light ashy-gray ; front surfaces, of legs a darker blackish gray-brown
than the back, and the upper surface o f the tail lighter than the dorsal
streak. Light area on under-parts not sharply defined.
Such is the best description I am at present able to give of the coloration
1 Mr. Cameron informs me that adult rams measure from 40 to 42 inches in height at the withers,
| D | aiomd chest behind stoulders from 46 to 49, inches. They weigh from lbs!
clean, according to season, .as when much “ run” they would appear to lose about a fourth of their
weight ;Bme of the ewes at this time weighing as much as the live-year old rams -
2 E