259 



THE YAK. 



JSlson poephagus. SMITH. 



Poephagus of Elian. Bos Grunniens of Pallas and Author* 

 The Yak, Shaw, Zoo/, ii. p. 411 Bison poephagus of 

 Smith. 



THE Yak inhabits the range of mountains which 

 separates Thibet from Bootan, living in the wooded 

 valleys, and often making excursions to the limits of 

 the snow line ; and Major Smith is inclined to consi- 

 der the white cattle of the Ramghur as varieties, 

 which would extend the limits that have usually 

 been assigned to it. The Yak is of an elegant form, 

 heavy before, but not so light in the hind quarters as 

 the bisons generally. The size varies, they are some- 

 times humped, sometimes without it. The general 

 colour is black, or nearly so. The mane, hair on 

 the hump and tail, nearly white, the latter almost al- 

 ways so. The hair on the forehead is frizzled, that on 

 the mane and fore quarters of some length, and that 

 on the hump also long and curled. The tail is al- 

 ways very long, one in the British Museum measur- 

 ing six feet, and is composed of an immense mass of 

 long, fine, and silky hair. These are in great re- 



