The terrestrial mammals and birds of North-East Greenland. 87 



bulls. The adult animals were shedding their wool which was en- 

 tangled in large tufts in the long overhairs. The stomachs were fil- 

 led with grass. 



On an excursion to the mountains between Mørkefjord and 

 Sælsøen in the beginning of September 1906 Jarner, the geologist of 

 the expedition, observed no less than four herds of musk-oxen. The 

 observer finding himself each time at a disproportionately great di- 

 stance from the animals, he was not able to state the size of the 

 herd Avith certainty; he supposed however that they numbered only 



Fig. 22. Skeleton parts of musk-oxen. 



four — seven animals. The musk-oxen were seen on a table-land about 

 eight hundred meter high, rather poor in vegetation, from which some 

 isolated summits rose here and there to a height of about one hun- 

 dered meter. On October 19'^^ 1906 I saw on the flat coast country 

 near Snenæs, east of Hvalrosodden, 4 musk-oxen, two old and a youn- 

 ger bull, besides an old cow, in a party. A thick carpet of newly 

 fallen snow covered the ground everywhere, and probably for that 

 reason I was not able to approach the animals more than at a 

 distance of 600 meter. In a short gallop through the loose snow 

 which was about 70 cm. deep, the animals hurried away to the 

 mountains, making halt now and then for a few seconds and gazing 

 down towards me. 



