RUMINANTIA. 369 



Post-Pliocene Mammals, and it was in existence up to at 

 least the twelfth century. 



The last of the Oxen which deserves notice is the curious 

 Musk-ox (Ovibos moschatus). This singular animal is at the 

 present day a native of Arctic America, and is remarkable 

 for the great length of the hair. It is called the Musk-ox, 

 because it gives out a musky odour. Like the Eeindeer, 

 the Musk-ox had formerly a much wider geographical range 

 than it has at present — the conditions of climate which are 

 necessary for its existence having at that time extended 

 over a very much larger area than at present. The Musk- 

 ox, in fact, in Post-Tertiary times is known to have extended 

 over the greater part of Europe, remains of it occurring 

 abundantly in certain of the bone -caves of Prance. As 

 already mentioned, high authorities regard the Musk-ox as 

 being truly a large Sheep, and as being, therefore, referable 

 to the Ovidcc. 



VOL. 11. 2 A 



