6 



12^ 



208 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The principal races and varieties of the species were moreover 

 represented in the choice of the individuals : 



For there were three white ones, with horns , 3 



Five white, without horns 5 



And four black, also without horns _ _ 4 



There being six males and six females 12 



/" \ 

 , ! Three yaks of the white horned race kept at the Gar- 

 I den of Plants. 



d } Two of bl'k race without horns, sent to Count de Morny, 

 ^ 5 ^"^ ^1 ^ J ^^^ Allier, the elevated central portion of France. 



f) Two of bl'k race without horns sent to the Ag. Com. of 

 g ) Barcelonnette, in the department of Basses Alp^s. 



. ! Three white without horns, sent into the department 

 . j of Doubs, bordering on Switzerland. 



Two white witliout horns, sent to Mr. Jobes, a far- 

 mer on the Jura mountains. 



Three years later (1857.) the twelve were all living and in good 

 condition. 



The family of three, kept at the Garden of Plants, (where the 

 mean annual temperature is much like that of the Central Park) 

 had in less than three years increased to eight, and of the five young 

 yaks one was of the second generation indigenous — certainly noble 

 specimens of acclimation. On the 13th September, 1856, was 

 born a young male from a female that had herself been born the 

 14th March, 1855, and consequently had not obtained her eigh- 

 teenth month. 



As I watched this movement at acclimation for more than three 

 years, I could not but think the mountainous regions of the 

 United States, or the high plateaux of the American continent 

 would one day be enriched by the philosophical deductions of 

 my venerated pi-eceptor. 



True we have the cow, the horse, the sheep, each more perfect 

 in its own order than is the yak, which seems to be substituted 

 for all three. But we should not neglect to consider that the 

 cow, the horse and the sheep have been raised to their preseiit 

 perfection from inferior races, by reason of the care of man. So 

 may it be in regard to the yak. One race may (under changed 

 external circumstances) serve us with wool ; one with milk, and 

 another with beef, Avhile yet another may continue much like the 

 yak of Thibet, to furnish all at once. 



