THE MUSK OX. 31 



same parts of this continent. This excellent and 

 accurate observer travelled, in the years '69, '70, 71* 

 and '72, and it is only to be regretted that he did 

 did not write down all he knew in relation to the 

 northern animals. He appears to have frequently 

 thought that what was so familiarly known to him, 

 w r ould not be of much interest to others, and has 

 thus withheld knowledge that few individuals can 

 have a similar opportunity of gaining. Notwith- 

 standing this, he has anticipated all the recent ex- 

 plorers in every essential observation. 



Hearne states that he has seen many herds of 

 musk oxen in the high northern latitudes, during a 

 single day's journey, and some of these herds con- 

 tained from eighty to a hundred individuals, of 

 which number a very small proportion were bulls, 

 and it was quite uncommon to see more than two 

 or three full grown males, even with the largest 

 herds. The Indians had a notion that the males 

 destroyed each other in combating for the females, 

 and this idea is somewhat supported by the warlike 

 disposition manifested by these animals during their 

 sexual season. The bulls are then so jealous of 

 every thing that approaches their favourites, that 

 they will not only attack men or quadrupeds, but 

 will run bellowing after ravens or other large birds 

 that venture too near the cows. 



Musk oxen are found in the greatest numbers 

 within the arctic circle; considerable herds are oc- 

 casionally seen near the coast of Hudson's bay, 



