CHAPTER XV. 



THE MUSK-OX-DESCRIPTION AND HAUNTS-PACHYDERM AT A-T IT E 

 PECCARY WHERE MET WITH-CETACEA OR WHALES DIFFER- 

 ENCE BETWEEN EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN ANIMALS DIVERSI- 

 TY OF CLIMATE DEVELOPING SPECIES PROBABLE EXTINCTION 

 OF CERTAIN CLASSES CONCLUSION. 



THE MusK-Ox (Bos Moschatus) is found exclusively in 

 the Arctic regions, preferring even there the most barren and 

 desolate parts. Nature, who adapts the wants of her progeny 

 to all emergencies, has paid especial attention to the coat of 

 these animals, by covering them with long dense hair, the inner 

 or fine hair corresponding to the fur of the bison ; the outer 

 covering, is long thick straggling bushy hair, which envelopes 

 the body, hanging nearly to the ground, and thus gives it a 

 very singular appearance from the shortness of its legs. The 

 eye of the Musk-Ox is very prominent, projecting a consider- 

 able distance from the frontal bone. Captain Parry thinks the 

 object of this is, to carry it clear of the quantity of hair 

 required to preserve the warmth of the head, when the 

 terrors and rigors of an Arctic winter are encountered by 

 this, sturdy animal. 



Richardson, another Arctic explorer, says, they never pene- 

 trate the woods, if woods they can be called, where a few 

 stunted junipers and pines only serve to accumulate the drift- 

 ing snow, but procure their food in -winter, on the steep 

 sides of the hills which are laid bare by the winds, feeding 

 on the moss and lichens with which the rocks are covered, in 

 lieu of herbage ; up these hills they climb with an agility that 

 their massive aspect would not lead one to suppose them 

 capable of. The same traveller says they have no tails ; he 

 must however either never have procured this animal, or else 

 taken a very cursory glance of them when procured, for the 



