234 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



The length of one of the males (No. 10,775) from end of nose 

 to root of tail exceeded 7 feet. The circumference of the 

 body next the fore legs, after the skin had been removed, was 

 64 inches; depth of chest, 26 inches; circumference of neck, 

 30 inches; of fore leg next the body, 15 inches. The measure- 

 ments of the four large males referred to above varied but a trifle. 



The horns of the males are expanded and flattened until they 

 cover the crown of the skull for a distance of 10 inches back 

 of the eyes. They have a spread (No. 10,775) °f 2 6 inches and 

 a total length of 29. 



The orbital ring is very prominent, projecting 2^ inches 

 from the maxilla, thus carrying the eyes beyond the thick 

 woolly covering of the head. In skinning the heads I found a 

 mass of matted hair and dirt tightly wedged under the horns 

 against the side of the head. The horns are not united in the 

 oldest bulls, but are always separated along the median line by a 

 space of a quarter of an inch which is filled by fine, grayish hair. 



The flesh, in April, was well flavored without the slightest 

 perceptible taint of musk. The animals from which it was 

 taken were very fat; the fat itself was clear white, sometimes 

 with a tinge of azure. Major Fielden says, 1 "The cause of the 

 disagreeable odor which frequently taints the flesh of these 

 animals has received no elucidation from my observations. It 

 does not appear to be confined to either sex or to any particular 

 season of the year; for a young, unweaned animal, killed at its 

 mother's side and transferred within an hour to the stew-pans 

 was as rank and objectionable as any. The flesh of some of 

 these animals of which I have partaken was dark, tender, and 

 as well flavored as that of four-year old Southdown mutton. 

 * * * * Leaves and stems of willow, with grasses, were in 

 the stomachs I examined." Richardson observes, "that when 

 the animal is in good condition the odor of musk is not notice- 

 able, but when lean both bulls and cows smell strongly of 

 musk." The marrow is large and white in the heavy leg bones, 

 and is highly prized by the natives; they are also very fond of 

 the foetal calves, which by the middle of April seemed fully 

 developed; the skins of these are purchased by the traders 

 who have caps, etc., made from them; the hair is short, dark 

 brown, and curled. 



1 Zoologist, Vol. I, 3rd Series, p. 358. 



