THK MUSK OX 



probably been occo.-ion.-d l>y the climate in which it li\.--an.l the work to which it has been 

 put. 'lh>- NoM.- ^ ak, for example, is a large, handsome animal, holding ita head proudly 

 erect, having a large hump, extremely long hair, and a \. i \ l.u-liy taiL It is a shy and withal 

 capii . ion- animal, too much disposed to kick with the hind feet and to make threatening 

 demonstration- with the horn-, a* U H .;.' :.;; ,:n; . i: . ::,-: M. i Ph. hea\\ ::::.. -: 

 huir that d. -<-or.it. th- -id-s of the Yak do not make their appearanoe until tin- animal has 

 attained three months of age, the calves being covered with rough curling hair, not unlike 

 tluit of u black Newfoundland dog. The beautiful white bushy tail of the Yak is in great 

 request for various ornamental purposes, and forms quite an important article of commerce. 



YAK 



. , 



Dyed red, it is formed into those curious tufts that decorate the caps of the Chinese, and when 

 properly mounted in a silver handle, it is used as a fly-flapper in India under the name of a 

 chowrie. These tails are carried before certain officers of state, their number indicating 

 his rank. 



The Plough Yak is altogether a more pMx-ian -lookini: animal, humbli of d-i>orrment, 

 carrying its head low, and almost devoid of the magnificent tufte of lonir silken hair* that 

 fringe the sides of its more aristocrat i<- n-lation. Tln-ir legs are very short in pmf tort ion to 

 th.-ir bodies, and they are generally tailless, that nu-mN-r having txvn cut off and sold by thetr 

 avaricious owner. There is also another variety which is t'rm-d th<- ffhninnrik. Tin* color of 

 this animal is black, the back and tail being often white. The natives of th.- country wh.-rv 

 the Yak lives are in the habit of crossing it with the common domi-tic r-attl.- and obtaining a 

 mixed breed. When overloaded, the Yak is accustomed to vent is displeasure by its l,,nd. 

 monotonic, melancholy grunting, which has l>een known to affect the nerves of unpractical 

 riders to such an extent that they dismounted, after suffering half an hour's infliction of thi* 

 most lugubrious chant, and performed the remainder of th.-ir journey on foot 



TITK curiously shaped horns of the MCSK Ox. its long woolly hair fallinp nearly to the 

 ground in every direction, so as nearly to conceal its legs, together with the peculiar form of 



