The National tribune., 1890-03-13

and thrce-quarters feet extreme length" al
though nc subsequently states that " sometimes
they even exceed the above measurements
Upon the whole neither with respect TO tho
wild sheep of Asia or America, is there sufficient
data 10 draw many reliable general conclusions
from.
Without further reference to the physical
traits Of The animal in question, it may be said
that the wild sheep of the SicIras like its Asiatc
ally, exhibits those great powers OF cquilibration
aud correlated progression, which experimental
physiology locates in the middle brain. and of
which the cercbellum is the co-ordiuating
center. Aided by the contractilc force of strong
muscles, and by an arrangement Of the foot,
exactly the reverse OF that which affords rein
deer and caribou their marked advantage over
the moose, Owls ammon and Owls montana per-
form feats OF mountaineering that neither the
chamOis or ibey Of the Swiss or Italian Alps,
nor the gO0Tal or thar of the Himalayas equal.
OF the latter, such apparently preternatural ex-
hibItI0ns Of balancing power aud sure lootedness
are recorded, that If they were not accounted
for by the animals structure they might well
be doubted. The reason why the wild sheep
can, as Col. Prejevaisky says, rush headloug
up rocks that are quite prccipitous," or descend
AZ speed declivities which would seem TO in
yolye certain death, is that, in addition 10 the
cerebral development referred to, its feet, ac-
c0rding 10 Muir's description, are constructed
for tins purpose. The wide posteriOr portion
Of the bottom Of the foot = bulges out
in q soft rubbcr-liko pad or cushion. which not
only grips and holds we'll on smooth rocks, but
fits Ia small cavities. and down upon or against
slight protubcrances." No doubt its immense
horns often preserve the skull from fracture.
but the animal never fails upon these design
edly aud in fact very seldom falls at all,
although IL frequently appears to do so.
Throughout November and December, and
sNsgt 4 agnss
MidHin;er,' observes Muir,
THEY ALL FLOCK TOGETHER,
males and females. old aud young" This is the
rutting season, and it was Que of these assem-
biages that astouished Lieut. Pyltsea. Ia the
Spring the rams separate from the ewes and
live apart until Autumn, IL small bands OF from
8 % - or 20 members. Each has a sentinel,
from whose keen sight and scent nothing es-
eapes. When alarmed the guard utters "a
loud. short whistle" so much like that of
man that Prejevalsky supposed at first that il
was given by hunter. IL a human being
should appear, this is repeated two or three
times, aud after few bounds the animals
stop 10 sec whence tie danger proceeds" II Is
at THIS moment for the halt Is but momentarv
that they offer Z fair mark 10 the sportsman.
Much the same Is said Of our big-hOrn; and
Col. Markham remarks II bnrriie that they
seem 10 be 10 more alarmed when "A pcTson
q mile distant" This is not due 90 stupidity,
be adds, any more than that indifference which
wild sheep display u the explosion Of rife,
and which has attracted attention in Tibet the
Indian Hills" and in our own mountains
Being accustomed, says the Colonel, 10 the
falling ayalanches. rolling stones" etc, of its
habitat, the report Of a gun is almost un-
needed unless close by them" OF course this
applies TO wild sheep at large, since all arc ex-
posed 70 the same conditions, and ali inhabit
lonely and remote localities where any constant
acquaintance with nam Is impossible.
During the pairing season, Muir states that
the character Of males, which is bold at all
times becomes very pugnaci0us. "Thcy fight
desperately" says Prcjeyasky, and KinlOch
adds that such cOmbats arc not confined to
this particular period, and that the points Of
the rams horns are almost always broken from
these encounters, the sound of Wh!ch-tbat is,
the crash Of their heads coming togcther-inay
be heard At a considerable distance.
From Mur's parallel between wild aud do
mcstic sheep, IL would appear that they were
aHtlthetcal ia every way and that In appear
ance, character aud capacity the former was
iucompaTably superior 10 the latter. The
domestic sheep" remarks Capt. Baldwin, "is
well known 10 be one Of the most stupid among
animals but the hunter will soon
discover that the burrhel, ouTial, Owls amm0n
and other species Of Wild sheep are, on the CON
tE"iyF TIC H4p5t Ah3s cunning anu ullIcuiJ 10
approach of all wild animals. Ever
watchiu and on the alert, they will take alarm
even AZ the quirk Of a marn0t the shrill scream
81 thc snow-pheasant, q rolling pebble pass
iug shadow; the slightest sound draws the inn
mediate attention Of the scntincls posted 10
guard the herd" Large, powerful, sleek, bold
aud an unmatchabc mountanccr, this senti-
nel stands niotionless for hours says prcjc
val5ky, on some narrow ledge commanding
the approach 10 an alpine meadow, where his
companions have come down from the sur
rounding nights in the early morning to Craze
No one can get within range except with the
advantage Of wind, Of cOuccaiment and from
above. In this kind Of hunting tho lofticst
ground is first sought, and the hunter then
scans those spots likely 10 hold game from the