Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-12-29
i, TIE BIG HORN SHEEP.

of the Argali, or big horn sheep Of the
Rocky mountains This animal is not
only very shy, but, having an appetite
for vegetation which can only be dis
covered among the very highest plateaus
Of the Rocky mountains, is q dweller Of
tho crags and cliffs. 1t is seldom it
breatheS more rarifled atmosphere than
is found in an altitude Of 1000 feet Its
manner Of life and its place OF living
make it difficult animal for tho hunter,
and the Utes and other mountain In
dians in the day of tho bow and arrow
looked on tho killing Of big horn as a
feat. They arc worry scarce and not at
Ill prolific.
There has always been large amount
of lying about the big horn. Hunters
mad, for time, some unexplainablo OK
Jleriences with them. A bunch of four
or five would be seen feeding upon
some high grassy mesa or table-land,
which would find termination, on three
sides perhaps, in precipitous up-and-
down descent OF several hundred feet.
The hunter, ambitious and indefatig-
able, would, with infinite labor, creep
ing up canyons and crawling
among rocks, come in behind
them. He would exult in the certainty
of n shot. The big horns could not es-
cape. A 4O0-foot precipice on three sides
so steep that bird could scarcely sus-
tain itself thereon and the hunter cut
ing of retreat ON the fourth, matters
looked gloomy for the big horn. Rest
ing himself for moment to recover his
breath and nerve, both somewhat
strained in his scramble among the
NrVyG
On catching sight or scent Of him the
big horns would amble in a confident
and contentcd way apparently to the
cdge of the precipice and disappear
The hunter on coming forward would
see his game racing far out in the valley
400 feet below. How did they get there?
That was always the question with the
Western man. 1t was finally concluded
on all hands that tho big horn jumped.
Ai his four slender legs could scarcely
nc expected to sustain such descent,
The ingenious Western mind had re-
course to the big horns from which the
Argali gets his sOubriquet. These are
from four to seven inches in diameter
- the base and sprout in horny spirals
from the animals head much after the
fashion OF tho horns of that engine of
obstruction tho common Merino ram.
When the big horn leaped, said these
NUnchausens, he turned head down
ard and alighted on these horns. They
had seen him make the trip, they said,
md they would thereupon enlarge on
the downward whizzing plunge of any
thing from 800 to- 1000 feet, according to
IN" mcndaciCS OF tho raconteur. They
would tell how he descended like some
curved woolly boomerang, and re-
bounded from his horned frontIet to q
HoiTht OF forty rect and then amblcd
away blcating with pride and pleasure
1T his success. So accurate naturalist
and so careful writer Us Mayne Reid
wrote q book about it and in his story
cast his big horns over precipices of
LOCO feet without 81 scruplc.
But the Argah does not indulge him
self in the flights ascribed to him. He
mas too much good sense. a jump from
:;uch heights would smash to snithcreens
q big horn made OF steel. But the mat
""r is not left to doubtful argument.
Their manner of descent has been dis
covered and is easy enougb-for big
NHrn-whcn once you witness it, All
td7ouGh these mountains you will find
seams and riffs which split the prcci-
2ices from top to bottom. The rock has
hcnn torn asunder by some force of ma
5are and tho result in many instances is
d cleft or split where tho walls are not
separated twenty feet and yet run from
tho bottom to the top of tho cliff 'somo
liUndrcds Of foct. %.-..' s..
Tho big horn is tho prince of caution
iotore he is found anywhere he ha,
made complete war map of tho neigh
lorhood, which he carries locked in hi,
woolly head. When he disports himsel
"n some dizzy plateau he is$always CIR
iain of al outlet. No cui dc SIC for him
&c is too good a nountaincer for that
Before he nibbles mouthful of tn,
irisp heritage, no has looked up one
ihcsc deep riffs which go down to Tho
gatlCY below. Tho moment ho ia diu