On the Musk Ox. 353 



ijpportuTiity of testing the longevity of the buffalo, as all mine that 

 have died did so from accident, or were killed because they became 

 aged. I have some cows that are nearly twenty years old, that 

 are healthy and vigorous, and one of them has noAV a sucking-calf. 

 The young buffalo calf is of a sandy-red or rufous color, and com- 

 mences changing to a dark brown at about six months old, which 

 last color it always retains. The mixed breeds are of various 

 colors. I have had them striped with black on a gray ground, like 

 the zebra ; some of them brindled red ; some pure red, with white 

 faces; and others red, without any markings of white. The 

 mixed bloods have not only produced in my stock from the tame 

 and buffalo bull, but I have seen the half bloods reproducing, viz : 

 those that were the product of the common cow and wild buffalo 

 bull. I was informed that, at the first settlement of the country, 

 cows that were considered the best for milkino'^ were from the half- 

 blood down to the quarter, and even eighth, of the buffalo blood. 

 But my experiments have not satisfied me that the half buffalo 

 bull will produce again. That the half-breed heifer will be pro- 

 ductive from either race, as I have before stated, I have tested 

 beyond the possibility of doubt. 



" The domesticated buffalo retains the same haughty bearing that 

 distinguishes him in his natural state. He will, however, feed or 

 fatten on whatever suits the tame cow, and requires about the 

 same amount of food. I have never milked either the full blood 

 or mixed breed, but have no doubt they might be made good 

 milkers, although their bags or udders are less than those of the 

 common cow ; yet, from the strength of the calf, the dam must 

 yield as much, or even more, milk than the common cow. " 



ARTICLE XLIX. — On the Musk Ox, (^Ovih&s moschatus.) 



The ]Musk-Ox, the most remarkable member of the whole Ox 

 Tribe, is strictly confined to the Arctic portion of the British Pro- 

 vinces lying far north of Canada. The geographical range of the 

 species is so distant from any climate endurable by civilized man, 

 that it appears to be beyond the reach of even the Hudson's Bay 

 Company. That an animal possessing the same arrangement of 

 teeth as the domestic ox, and in other respects but very slightly 

 differing from the comparatively helpless creature that man has 

 made his servant, should be capable of leading a happy life amid 



