ANTELOPES. 



523 



The Musk Sheep (Ovibos moscTtalus) is usually called Musk Ox. As it is properly a 

 sheep-like animal, we prefer to drop the inappropriate name. This is, perhaps, the most rare 

 of North American animals. Though seen and killed in the Arctic Regions, it has been very 

 difficult to get a perfect specimen for museums. After a long period of advertising and solicit- 

 ing, Prof. Ward has just succeeded in procuring a specimen for the American Museum in 

 Central Park. 



Its specific name indicates that a peculiar odor like musk distinguishes it. Though 

 clumsy in appearance it climbs rocky hills with the same ease as the goats and sheep. Its 

 distribution in prehistoric days was over the whole European Continent remains being found 

 in the caves in widely distant portions. 



m 



GROUP OP SODTH AFRICAN ANTELOPES. 



ANTELOPES. 



THE ANTELOPES form a large and important group of animals, finding representatives in 

 many portions of the globe. Resembling the deer in many respects, they are easily to be dis- 

 tinguished from those animals by the character of the horns, which are hollow at the base, set 

 upon a solid core like those of the oxen, and are permanently retained throughout the life of 

 the animal. Indeed, the Antelopes are allied very closely to the sheep and goats, and, in 

 some instances, are very goat-like in external form. In all cases the Antelopes are light and 

 elegant of body, their limbs are gracefully slender, and are furnished with small cloven hoofs. 

 The tail is never of any great length, and in many species is very short. The horns, set above 



