Habits 7 



Eastern Hemisphere, and not improbably in Asia. Its immigration into 

 Africa south of the Sahara was doubtless a comparatively modern event ; 

 this being confirmed by the fact that all its representatives found in that 

 continent appear to be modifications ot a single specific type. Equally 

 modern and equally limited was doubtless also the migration into America; 

 the route of this migration being clearly indicated by the fossil remains 

 of the bison which occur in Alaska. This emigration may not unlikely 

 have been contemporaneous with that ot the wapiti, which, like the bison, 

 has never succeeded in penetrating into the southern hall: ot the New 

 World. 



Habits. — In the nature of their habitat oxen display a considerable 

 amount of variability. Many prefer forest districts, especially where the 

 ground is hilly and rocky, but the American bison was mainly an 

 inhabitant of the open prairies, and the yak is still a denizen ot the bleak 

 highlands of Tibet. Probably, however, all the members ot the group were 

 originally forest-dwelling animals, some of which have been compelled 

 by stress of circumstances to take to a life on open plains or plateaux ; and 

 the fact that the American bison has a woodland race which is probably 

 more primitive than its cousin of the prairies, affords a distinct confirma- 

 tion of this hypothesis. All, or nearly all the species associate in herds ot 

 larger or smaller size, which may be protected and led by the bulls, and in 

 some cases may be numbered in thousands ; but in many instances, at any 

 rate, the oldest males separate themselves from the herds to pass a more 

 or less completely solitary existence, and cows take the lead. 



Of all ruminants, oxen are perhaps the most generally usetul to man- 

 kind. Not only do they provide fiesh of a highly nutritive and palatable 

 nature, but the females furnish milk, and the skins of both sexes afford a 

 most valuable supply of leather. The horns and hoofs, too, are largely 

 used for several purposes ; while the American bison formerly supplied 

 rugs or robes that afforded one of the most efficient protections against 



