The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-09-27
A Lively Little Animal.

A Lively Little Animal ss
l once knew hunter, living near
mining town in Montana, who made 4
business of selling wild game that he
brought in from the surrounding mount
aims. In his excursions, he would otter
happen upon the young Of various wild
animals, and bring them home to his
cabin as pets for his children. In fact.
he had made considerable money by
rearing some of these young animals
and afterward sending them to the East.
ern States to be sold to menageries.
He captured young grizzlies, mountain
lions, panthers and lynxes, and many 3
baby buffalo has he brought lone to
his children. These, when they grew
large, were either sold or turnel in with
the cattle, of which he owned large
herd
One day | was riding by Lis cabin
and noticed that he had built around it
an inclosure of common rough planks.
| put close together, and sawed off at an
even height, making board fence such
as you have often seen in towns or VIII
lagos. While looking at this fence, my
attention was attracted by curious
little animal running along the top Of
/! the fence. At little distance 1t looked
like q kid or lamb, yet no one ever saw
lamb run along the top of a board
| fence, skipping and dancing as freelyas
when on the ground. 1t would suddens
| lY stop and stand on its hind legs, and
shake its head as II at some enemy on
the other side of the Enclosure or fence.
My curiosity being aroused, drove
up to see what this curious creature was.
! It did not appear to be afraid Of me,
and came close. up to where ] sluod,
now and then shaking its head omipous-
/ ", however, as if to say: Il should. like
to try a fight with you, too" st that
moment heard a sudden bark, and ~
small Newfoundland dog dashed around
the fence. Away went the strange
creature, leaping down the fence and
dashing across the yard, the dog after.
it, but both in play, as | could see.
Their jumps and gambols would have
astonished you. But always, when
hard pressed, the queer animal would
wheel, and with one spring land on the
very top of the board fence agsin It's
powers of leaping and balancing were
truly marvellous.
/ shouted to the hunter whom now
discovered unsaddling his horse at the
door of his stable near by, saying:
"What do you call this lively thing2n
THAT'S d kind of Chinese puzzle
on legs" said he, in reply. 'sDid You
ever. see any circus clown beat him Of
| juIhping?''
replied by asking: .'Well, what do.
you call the creature when cooked2n M
This question he did not eyade, but
answered, promptly: awe call it mutt
ton or lamb These animals resemble
our sheep. in many ways, but not in
their straight, coarse, yellowish-brown
hair. But beneath this rough coat they
have fine, short wool covering their
bodies. They used to be called goats;
but the wise men of the country have
| decided that they ere. really sheep. a
I had seen these strange sheep at
distance, in little bands, but never any
so young as the one now playing
about my friends fence.
The older sheep have dark brown
streak down the back of the hind legs,
and also the same kind of mark down
the front of the fore leg. Their eyes
are very large, resembling those OF .
deer or antelope.
They feed on the bunch grass, lichens
and moss that grows on the rocks. on
sage, and ON the banks Of trees. They
are very difficult to approach in their
wild state, yet when captured Young
are easily tanned.
Hunters have very laborious spers
when hunting these animals, as thsI
seek the most elevated peaks OF t1o
mountains, and very seldom descend 90
the valleys. 1T is. the object OF tlc
hunter to get above his game, il pcs
sible, when in pursuit of the mountain
sheep, for they are 50 quicko eye, eN
and foot that, Il. he meets them on t1e
same level with himself, he stands hit'
little chance of bagging his game 10
he strives to get above them. liners N ?
stone thrown down among them WILL ~.
suffice to brighten them, and they VIII
Immediately begin ascending the uaoufl1
ain; and as they can not scent w
hunter, who lies in wait above theta,
. they will then fall an easy prey VI
, quick and true shots from his rifle
". III. Gary, iis Isl. lN6cbotas.
80 : 2