The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-01
A Lively Little Animal.

| once knew hunter, living near n
mining town in Montana, who made q
business of selling wild game that he
brought in from the surrounding mount
aims. In his excursions. hewould often
happen upon the young of various wild
animals, and bring them home 10 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
baby buffalo has he brought home to
his children. These, when they grew
large, were either sold or turned in with
the cattle, OF which he owned large
herd.
| One day was riding by his 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 a board fence such
Us you have often seen in towns or vii
lagos. While looking at this fence, my
attention was attracted by n curious
little animal running along the top of
the fence. AT little distance ii looked
like kid or lamb, yet no one ever saw
a lamb run along the top of a board
fence, skipping and dancing as freely as
when on the ground. 1t would sudden
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.
II did not appear 10 he afraid of me,
and came close up to where | stood,
now and then shaking itshead ominous-
ly, however, as II to say: Il should like
TO try fight with you, too" AT that
moment heard u sudden bark, and
small Newfoundland dog dashed around
the fence. Away went the strange
creature, leaping down the fence and
dashng across the yard, the dog after
1t, but both in play, as | could sec.
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 again. It's
powers Of leaping and balancing were
truly marvellous.
! shouted to the hunter whom I now
discovered unsaddling his horse at the
door of his stable near by, saying:
"What do you call this lively thingf''
"That's a kind Of Chinese puzzle
on legs said he, in reply. 'Did you
ever see any CIRCUS clown beat him ut
junpingp''
Ireplied by asking: "Well, what do
You call the creature when cookedp"
This question he did not evade, but
answered, promptly: I'VE call it NUT
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 are really sheep"
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 a 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 a
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 sport
when hunting these animals, as they
seek the most elevated peaks of the
mountains, and very seldom descend to
the valleys. 1t is the object Of the
hunter to get above his game, II pos
sible, when in pursuit Of the mountain
sheep, for they are SO quick Of eye, ear
and foot that, if he meets them on the
same level with himself, he stands but
little chance Of bagg;ng his game. So
he strives to get above them. Then 9
stone thrown down among them will
suffice to frighten them, and they will
Immediately begin ascending the mount
ain; and as they can not scent the
hunter, who lies in wait above them,
they will then fall an easy prey to
quick and true shots from his ride
w. NJ. Cary. IN 81 Nicholas.