300 IINGULATA. 



YAK. 



Poepliagus gunniens. 

 French : Yack. German : Grunzochse. 



The Yak inhabits Nepaul, the mountains of Tibet, 

 and other mountainous parts of the Chinese Empire. 



It is a pecuhar, and somewhat ungainly-looking beast, 

 this appearance being partly caused by the thick growth 

 of long hair under its body. This undergrowth is no 

 doubt produced by the snow, and protects its body from 

 the cold ground. The Yak, like other cattle, is some- 

 times horned and sometimes polled. It resembles the 

 North American Bison in having the fore-quarters con- 

 siderably higher than the hind, and it has also a slight 

 hump on its back. The colour is black, white, or grey. 

 The tail is extremely thick and bushy, and the hairs are 

 of great length, about 25 inches long. Many tails are 

 imported for the manufacture of wigs, etc., about 3,400 

 animals being killed annually. The white are in 

 greatest demand, being used for white peruques and for 

 the tassels in the harness of cavalry, and are worth 

 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. The black and grey are less in 

 request for wigs, and fetch 4s. and 28. respectively. 

 The hair is sold for commercial purposes ; the hide also 

 is used in trade. 



The Yak is sometimes ridden, or used as a beast of 

 burden, and its milk is very good. It breeds in confine- 

 ment in this country, and is readily crossed with other 

 cattle, such as Gayals, Zebus, Bison, etc. 



The grunt of the Yak is very like that of the Pig. 



