12 MOUNTAIN SHEEP

be ascribed to no more plausible cause than migration.
It is just possible that some severe epidemic attacked
the sheep; but as both these occurrences happened very
far apart, with an interval of several years between them,
and no other ranges were affected in a similar way nor
was there persistent hunting, it is hard to think that
disease was their cause.

As a general thing rams of mature age live on particular
mountains of their own, which are generally of higher
altitude and of a more rugged character than those that
the ewes frequent, but neither ewes nor rams ever volun-
tarily dwell on cliffs or on any such rough ground as they
are often depicted doing. They may be driven to bluffs
for refuge, but such places are not their natural habitat.
Very old rams are often content to live alone or with one
companion, but you are more apt to find them in bands
varying in number from five or six up to twenty or even
more. The young rams usually herd with the ewes until
they are several years old, when they are permitted the
dignity of joining the “ grown-ups”; but it is not until
they have hung around the outskirts of a band for some
time, and have proved themselves worthy of recognition,
that they are allowed to mingle with it.

When the “rutting” season commences—which is
generally about the first week in November—the rams
leave their own abode and join the ewes. Their first move
is to drive the young rams off and then collect the ewes
into bands. The rivalry in collecting the ewes often
leads to a series of battles. An occasional one may be
fiercely fought, but seldom, if ever, with fatal results.
The number of ewes a ram will round up depends on his
energy and pugnacity and the number of ewes in that
immediate vicinity, but the most I have ever known one
ram keep for himself was twenty-four. When the owner-
ship of the ewes is decided each ram drives his flock off
to his own particular “‘ rutting ” ground.

Sometimes the distance rams travel to reach ewe
ranges is considerable, possibly many miles, though as a
rule they are not far distant from one another and often