FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Muskox. — Ovibos moschatus 



and related forms 



Names. — Muskox; Musk Bison or Musk Buffalo (old 

 accounts). Plate XLV. 



General Characters. — A long-haired, shaggy, wild Ox 

 rather smaller than a domestic Ox; the males with broad, 

 downward curving horns which nearly meet over the midline 



Fig. 1 1 8. Muskox 



of the skull to form a broad frontlet; horns of females not so 

 broad and expanded; form robust; legs short and stocky; tail 

 short ; pelage exceedingly long and concealing the true form of 

 the animal ; a fine, soft wool or underf ur present. 



Color. — Sexes colored very much alike; no very marked 

 seasonal variation except in length of pelage and worn, shed 

 appearance of summer coat. 



Upperparts. — Nearly black except for brownish black 

 dorsal region and lighter brown "saddle" mark behind 

 shoulders; no white on head except for possible scattering of 

 white hairs on face; nose white; feet white. 



Underparts. — Dark like upperparts. 



Females sometimes with more white on head than males. 



Immature with more white on head. 



540 



