FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Muskoxen band together, the old males with their heavy 

 horns facing the enemy from the outside of the circle, the 

 females and young within. Unfortunately these wild Cattle 

 have no adequate defense against man and are faced with 

 actual extermination everywhere except in the most northern 

 parts of their range. The Eskimos in some sections depend 

 largely upon Muskoxen for food and clothing, and make 

 no effort to conserve the herds. White explorers and hunters 

 have been guilty of ruthless killings, and those who know the 

 Arctic best are predicting the doom of the Muskox. 



Although fossil Muskoxen have been found in northern 

 Eurasia, the living forms are to be found only in North 

 America and Greenland. 



Genus Ovis 

 Dentition: Incisors, ^ ; Canines, S ; Premolars, f; Molars, f =32. 



Mountain Sheep. — Ovis canadensis 



and related forms 



Names. — Mountain Sheep; Rocky Mountain Sheep; Big- 

 horn Sheep; Bighorn; Rocky IMountain Bighorn. Plate I. 



General Description. — A large, wild Sheep; the males with 

 massive horns which curl back, out and up, females with small 

 horns; pelage hairy not woolly; glands in all four feet, four 

 hoofs on each foot ; a gland under each eye ; chin beardless ; tail 

 short; mammae two in number; eyes amber to golden yellow; 

 horns dark brown; hoofs black. 



Color. — Ewes similar to rams but usually less strongly 

 marked, paler. Seasonal variation is from darl^er shades in 

 fall or late summer to much lighter coats in spring when wear 

 has removed the dark tips of the hairs. 



Upperparts. — Brownish to grayish brown, darkest on back 

 of neck, throat, legs and dorsal line from rump to end of 

 tail; sides slightly paler than back; rump patch creamy white. 



Underparts. — Yellowish white with broad encroachment of 

 brown from sides and heavy wash of sooty brown on chest 

 and insides of legs. 



The above is taken from a specimen in the American 

 Museum which is dated September 21, and is consequently in 

 fresh pelage. 



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