SCIENTIFIC TAXIDERMY FOR MUSEUMS. 425 



sheep, and has no trace of the hare "muffle" of oxen. The general color of the 

 hair is a rich brown, shading into black. It is long, matted, and rather curly at the 

 neck and shoulders. On the back and hips the hair is long and straight, on the sides 

 of the body exceedingly long, bo hum ;,s to hang below the midille of the legs. In 

 some specimens which we have measured the .ongest hairs have been 20 inches long. 

 In the center of the back there is a patch of soiled brownish white, termed the 

 saddle. 



There is a closely-matted short under wool, exceedingly soft and fine of texture, 

 and so dense that it is impervious to snow and rain. Oh the chest the hair is long 

 and straight, and hangs down gracefully like fringe. The tail is short and hidden 

 in the long hair on the hips. On the legs the hair is short, stiff, and without any 

 underwool. The hoofs are much curved and larger than those of the caribou, which 

 they resemble in shape, and the eye of a skilled hunter would lie taxed to detect the 

 difference between the tracks of the two species in the snow. The bones of the ani- 

 mal are very dense; those of the legs have the weight and appearance of ivory. 



The food of the mnsk ox is similar to that of the caribou, and consists of grass at 

 one season and lichen at another. The curved hoofs enable the animal to scrape away 

 the deep snows which cover their scanty food. Their sense of smell is very acute. 

 The illustration of the musk ox here given represents the character of the animal. 

 The specimen from which it is taken is the largest in this country or Europe. The 

 skin of this specimen was obtained by E. V. Skinner, esq., of the Canadian Pacific 

 Railroad, and placed in the hands of Messrs. Sowdon and Webster, of 14 East Forty- 

 second street, this city, who have prepared it, as faithfully represented by the plate. 

 Through the kindness and by the permission of Mr. Skinner we have the pleasure 

 of placing before our readers this handsome likeness. 



This specimen was sledded by natives oxer 1,400 miles near Fort Franklin, and was 

 received here in fine condition. The order for it was given three years since and 

 the specimen has been in transit most of this time. The few measurements may 

 serve to impress the reader with the proportions of this particular specimen. The 

 animal stands at the shoulder 4 feet 5 inches; the length from nose to stern is G feet 

 7 inches; height at the rnmp, 3 feet 10 inches; length of head from base of sknll to 

 end of nose, 24 inches; length of horn from median line, following the outside curve 

 to tip, 24 inches; width of both horns at base, 12 inches; diameter of horns at base r 

 9A inches; breadth of muzzle, 4| inches; circumference of muzzle, 14 inches; cir- 

 cumference of hoof of front leg, 17 inches; circumference of hoof of hind leg, l'S 

 inches. 



There are but four other mounted specimens of the musk ox in this country. One 

 is at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., and three compose a group at the U. S. 

 National Museum, Washington, D. C. < )f these, one is a male, one a female, and one 

 a two-year-old, none of them superior specimens. 



Anion g the mounted species of the JEJquidce at the National Museum none 

 can, in my estimation, in anyway approach the specimen of Burchell's 

 zebra (Plate lxxxi). The animal lias been given an attitude indicative 

 of moderate movement, with the evident idea in its mind of making' an 

 attack or standing at bay, in which he will use his teeth to bite — a 

 habit so familiar to us in some cases of vicious horses. The short mane 

 is semierect, the ears are thrown back, the eye looks the owner's intent r 

 while the quivering and nearly rigid lips drawn apart show the glisten- 

 ing upper " nippers " and the crowns of the lower ones; the nostrils are 

 somewhat closed by the elevation of the superior lip; finally, the entire 

 rendering of the whole animal is most perfect in all particulars. I am 

 enabled to present herewith the left lateral view of the head of this 

 zebra, so its excellence may be the better appreciated. 



