680 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



OVIBOS, Blainville. 



Ovibos, BLAIKVILLK, "Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816." 



ADD. & BACII. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1853, 46. 



Hoofs broad, inflexcd at the tips. Tail very short. No naked muffle, except a small space between the nostrils, which 

 is not furrowed. Horns very broad and much approximated at the base, bending rapidly downwards. Hair very long 

 and pendent. 



The musk ox is one of the most interesting of American animals, and at the same time one 

 of which, on account of its geographical distribution, is very little known. In the hairy muffle, 

 long, straight, pendent and soft hair, and short tail, with other features, it bears a strong re 

 semblance to the sheep and goats, and in a strictly natural arrangement will be placed quite 

 near to them. But one living species is known, although several fossil ones are indicated by 

 authors. 



OVJBOS MOSCHATUS. 



Musk Ox. 



Bos moschatus, ZIMMEKMANN, Geog. Geschichte, II, 1780, 86. 

 GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788,205. 

 GODMAN, Am. N. H. Ill, 29. 



WAGNER, Schreber's Saugt. V, H, 1838, 1706 ; pi. cccii A, cccii B. 

 Sot (Ovibos) moschatus, WAGNER, Suppl. Schreber, IV, 1844, 512. IB. V, 1855, 471. 

 Ovibos moschatus, "BLAINVILLE, Bull. Soc. Phil. 1816." 

 DESMAREST, Mamm. II, 1822, 492. 

 HARLAN, F. Am. 1825, 265. 

 RICHARDSON, F. B. Am. I, 1829, 275. IB. Zoology of Herald, Fossil Mammals, i, 1852, 66 ; 



ii, 119 ; pi. ii, v, xi, xii, (osteology.) 

 OGILBY, Pr. Zool. Soc. Lond. IV, 1836, 137. 

 ADD. & BACH. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1853, 46 ; pi. cxi. 

 BAIRD, Rep. U. S. Pat. Off. Agricultural for 1851, (1852,) 121 ; plate. 

 Musk bison, FENNANT, Hist. Quad. 1781, No. 9. IB. Arctic Zool. I, 1784, 8. 



SP. CH. "Adult male, size of a two year old cow. Horns united on the summit of the head, flat, broad, bent down 

 against the cheeks, with the points turned up. Color brownish black." Aud. &f Bach. 



Without any specimen at hand of this species, I refer to the authors quoted above for a 

 description of its habits and peculiarities. As already stated, some of its characters approach 

 that of the Ovine group, especially the end of the snout, which is hairy, with only a small 

 naked space between the nostrils. I have given a rude diagram of this feature, as hastily 

 sketched from the mounted animal in the museum of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural 

 Sciences. 



The musk ox is very rare in collections, the only one in the United States being that in the 

 Philadelphia Academy, presented by Dr. Kane, who received it from the arctic seas. 



This animal, as a living species, is confined to the barren grounds of arctic America, beyond 

 60, extending northward as far as land is found. It is said to occur fossil at Eschscholtz bay, 



