189 



THE MUSK OX- 



Omlos moschatus BLAINVILLE. 



PLATE XXIII. 



Br-g moschatus of Authors Musk Ox, Hearne, Pennant, 



Qc. Ovibos moschatus, Blainville, Nouveau Dictionnaire. 



THIS animal may perhaps have an appropriate sta- 

 tion as an intermediate form, connecting this division 

 with the sheep, which De Blainville has endeavoured 

 to express in his generic name. The appearance of 

 the countenance, the long hair, or rather a sort of 

 wool, ally it with the latter ; while the horns and 

 other parts of the form hring it nearer to the oxen, 

 with which, by common consent, its namers, * whe- 

 ther scientiBc or otherwise, have combined it. 



The Musk Ox inhabits the barren lands of Ame- 

 rica lying to the northward of the 60th degree of la- 

 titude, and ranges to Melville Island over the islands 

 which lie to the north of the American continent. 

 They frequent country destitute of wood, rocky and 

 barren, and they feed alternately on grass or lichens. 

 They assemhle in herds of thirty or forty, and are 



* The Cree and Copper Indians have names which sig- 

 nify " ugly and little Bison." Richardson. 



