AECTIC MUSK OX 7 



the Old World. Yet in Europe it penetrated as far as England 

 and France in Pleistocene times, having apparently reached 

 these countries from an eastward direction. While the rein- 

 deer occurs even in southern Greenland, the musk ox 

 frequents only the north and east of that country. 



According to Dr. Conwentz, it has only wandered east- 

 ward from the north coast of Greenland in recent times. 

 At any rate, Professor Nathorst alleges that Scoresby, in the 

 year 1822, did not observe it in the neighbourhood of the 

 Sound which bears his name, though it is now found there. 

 Nevertheless, the discovery of some very ancient skulls 

 between the seventieth and seventy-fifth degrees of latitude 

 on the same coast make it probable that the musk ox lived' 

 in that region in more remote times, afterwards becoming 

 extinct only to advance once more to its former habitat in 

 recent times.* 



The musk ox to most observers has appeared to be subject to 

 little variation. Mr. Lydekker, however, described a form 

 from eastern Greenland (Ovibos moschatus wardi) with a 

 whitish face-patch and lighter general colouration, which 

 Dr. Allen f has since raised to specific rank, showing that it 

 also differed from the type in the structure of the horns and 

 hoofs. The latter likewise pointed out that it was not con- 

 fined to Greenland, but inhabited also Ellesmere and Grinnell 

 Land. 



Another form of musk ox, an almost black one, from the 

 far north of Canada, was first noticed and described by Mr. 

 Elliot. A renewed examination of musk ox skins and skulls 

 was recently undertaken by Dr. KowarzikJ with rather re- 

 markable results. He recognises two strikingly distinct 

 groups of musk oxen, a western and an eastern group, 

 characterised by very important osteological and external 

 features, which had apparently escaped the attention of pre- 

 vious observers. In a private letter he admitted to me 

 that the musk ox must have originated in North America, 

 Bootherium being probably its direct ancestor. Yet he is 

 evidently inclined to believe that, after spreading by way of 



* Conwentz, " Verbreitung d. Moschusochsen," pp. 429 431. 

 t Allen, J. A., " Musk-Oxen of Arctic America," p. 76. 

 t Kowarzik, R., " Der Moschusochs," p. 120. 



