104 The Musk-ox 



MUSK-OX 



(OVIBOS MOSCHATUS 1 ) 



In spite of its name this Arctic ruminant has 

 no near affinity with the members of the ox tribe, 

 the cheek teeth being more like those of the 

 sheep and goats, the muzzle, except for a small 

 strip between the nostrils, hairy, and the tail 

 reduced to a mere stump concealed among the 

 long hair of the hind quarters. On the other 

 hand, the resemblance to the sheep is not very 

 close, the horns, which in old males nearly meet 

 in the middle line of the forehead, being of a 

 totally different form and structure, and the skull 

 likewise very distinct. In the males the horns 

 are much flattened and expanded at the bases, 

 after which they are bent suddenly down behind 

 the eyes, to curve upward at the tips. In the 

 females they are much smaller, less expanded, 

 and not approximated at their bases. In both 

 sexes their texture is coarse and fibrous, and their 

 color yellow. The long coat of dark brown 

 hair, depending from the back and sides like a 

 mantle, affords an adequate protection against 



1 " Records of Big Game," Rowland Ward, third edition. 



