348 BRANCH CHORDATA 



crags of the mountains, the boldest rim-rock of the plateau, or the most 

 rugged "bad lands," for which it is adapted by its round firm hoofs, its 

 warm winter under coat, its ability to subsist on scant herbage, and its keen 

 senses. It is hunted by mountain lions and by man for its savory flesh. 

 It has a handsome head and massive horns curved into the half or three- 

 fourths of a circle, as are the horns of no other wild animal. It needs to be 

 seen in its native cloudland to be fully appreciated. 



There are many breeds of the domestic sheep. The original of this per- 

 haps most useful and least educated of animals is not known. The variation 

 of external characters, such as horns, ears, and tail, and in the color, length, 

 texture, and quality of the fleece, is exceedingly great. The existence of 

 these numerous breeds is probably due to their tendency to varj' and to 

 effect fertile crosses, and to long-continued selection, combined with the 

 obstinacy with which these variations are transmitted and retained. Sheep 

 are used to an enormous extent both for the production of their wholesome 

 flesh and for their wool. Thousands of Persian lamb skins are used in the 

 fur trade annually, and hundreds of thousands of Astrakans, which is the 

 same breed taken when exceedingly young, it is said, before their natural 

 birth. This breed is also greatly valued for its fat, which accumulates on 

 the haunches in two great protuberances. In the fat-tailed sheep of Asia 

 the tail of pure fat sometimes weighs 30 to 50 pounds, and trails upon the 

 ground if not suspended upon wheels or carried upon a truck. This fat 

 is regarded as a great luxury. The Spanish Merino sheep has been intro- 

 duced into South Africa, Australia, and the United States. It is celebrated 

 for the line (|uality of its wool. 



The musk-ox {O'vihos mosclia'lus) is a strange, long-haired, short-legged 

 creature of the frozen North. It belongs between the sheep and ox, par- 

 taking of the characters of each. 



Oxen are distinguished from other hollows-horned ruminants by their 

 stouter build, and by their smooth curved (not twisted) horns, which stand 

 out from the sides of the head. The wild ox of Europe (Bos primigenius) , 

 believed to be surviving in the herds of Chillingham and Chartley,i is 

 supposed to be the progenitor of our cattle. The original, called the auroch, 

 or, by the Romans, Urus, was of more gigantic size. 



One of the largest of the family to-day is the European bison (Bos 

 bonasus). It looks much like our American bison or buffalo, but is taller. 

 Bisons differ from oxen in having a hump over the shoulder formed by 

 spinous processes for the attachment of the great muscles used in holding 

 up the massive head and in the great pushing matches of the bulls. The 

 American "buffalo" is more shaggy and robust than the European "wisent " 

 (Fig. 283). The latter was forest inhabiting, while our "buffaloes" loved 

 the plains, where they congregated form.erly in great herds in spring and fall, 

 but usually formed only scattered bands which traveled over the plains in 

 single file. The true buffalo of Africa and India has no hump and is almost 

 hairless. No animal is more dangerous than an infuiiated bull buffalo, and 

 none more easily provoked. Pugnacity and revenge are its ruling impulses. 

 It has been domesticated in India, and is very useful, but not lovable. 

 Africa has two species, which are sometimes accompanied by starlings. 

 In the East starlings and herons "perch on their backs and hunt for ticks 

 and other parasites" — a strange, but mutually beneficial commensalism. 



The yak {Bos grunniens), of the mountains of Thibet, has short legs, 

 goat-like feet, humped shoulders, smooth, spreading horns, and carries its 



iPeddard, p. 321. 



