THE MUSK OX. 



367 



As recently as 1850 Baird says that, owing to the extreme 

 scarcity of the musk ox, he knows of hut one specimen to be 

 found in all the museums of the United States. This scarcity, 

 however, might be accounted for more by the fact of obstacles 

 in the way of entering the territories inhabited by the musk ox 

 than by the actual rarity of the animal. From the evidence of 

 fossil remains, it is clear that the musk ox long ago roamed west- 

 ward to Siberia, and found its way eastward even to the British 



Isles ; but the accompanying map, exhibiting the boundaries of 

 its present range, shows how restricted is its distribution. In the 

 regions of perpetual snow it wanders, making its way northward 

 in summer, being found at the highest points our expeditions 

 have reached, and returning in winter to its southern haunts, 

 which seldom touch latitude 60°. Over the rugged wilds the 

 creature loves to ramble, and, although its appearance indicates 

 awkwardness of locomotion, it is said to run fast and to climb 

 precipitous cliffs with wonderful ease. Its home is the " barren 

 grounds " wherein vegetation is limited almost to a few lichens 

 and the stunted spruce to which they cling. On this meager diet 

 the musk ox fattened and lived free from the assaults of almost 

 every enemy ; for the Eskimo alone penetrated its domain, being 

 urged thither by hunger and the desire to obtain the valuable 

 pelt. 



The flesh is much coveted by the Eskimos, and explorers speak 

 in the highest terms of the relish afforded by the meat of the cow 

 and the calf, although the meat of the bull is pronounced as 

 offensively musky. Till within the last five years, in our markets, 

 the pelt was worth fifty dollars, and was accounted a rarity ; but 



