222 RUMINANTIA. 



that the tiger has no chance in a combat with a full grown Gour. 

 This animal does not, like the Buffalo, wallow in swamp and 

 mire. The large quantity of milk given by the cow, is said 

 to be occasionally so rich as to cause the calf's death. 



Poephagus. (Gr. noi^ poe, grass ; qod/w, phago, I eat,) or .Bos 

 grunniens, (of Linnaeus.) The YAK. 



Of this genus, there is but one species, P.grunniens, found in 

 the woods and recesses of the Thibet mountains. It has fourteen 

 or fifteen pair of ribs, and resembles the Buffalo in its form, but 

 is smaller. Both sexes grunt like a pig, whence the specific 

 name, grunniens, (Lat. grunting.) The tail has full flowing 

 hair like that of a horse, and is used in India as a fan or whisk 

 to keep off the musquitoes, when fixed into an ivory or metal 

 handle, it is called a chowrie. Elephants are sometimes taught 

 to carry a chowrie, and waive it about in the air. The neck 

 and back are surmounted by a sort of mane ; the hair of the 

 body is black, smooth and short in summer, but thick and harsh 

 in winter; the back and tail are often white. The Yaks dislike 

 the heat of summer, and hide themselves in the shade and water. 

 The hair is applied to various purposes by the Tartars. They 

 weave it into cloth, of which they not only make articles of dress, 

 but also tents and the ropes which sustain them. There are two 

 varieties, those used for the plough, and those used for riding. 

 The former are ugly and short-legged, and guided by the nose, 

 carry their heads very low; the latter much handsomer, having 

 twisted horns, a noble bearing, and an erect head ; also a stately 

 hump, and a rich silky tail reaching nearly to the ground. 



Bos moschatus. (Lat. musky,) or Ovibos moschatus. The 

 MUSK Ox. (Plate VII. fig. 9.) 



This animal has sometimes been removed from the genus Bos, 

 in consequence of the absence of the naked muzzle which is 

 possessed by others of the bovine groups, and ranked as a con- 

 necting, or intermediate link between the ox and the sheep ; 

 hence the generic term ovibos, (Lat. ovis, a sheep; and bos, 

 ox.) It may be doubted, however, whether, on this account, it 

 should be separated from the bovines. The full-grown male is 

 about the size of a small two year old cow ; the female is con- 

 siderably smaller; the horns are united at the top of the head, 

 flat, broad, and bent down against the cheeks, but become round 

 and tapering, and turning up, end in a sharp point about the 

 level of the eyes. The animal is covered with long bushy hair, 

 which reaches almost to the ground. The general color of the 

 hair is brown, or brownish black, except a portion in the middle 

 of the back, which is dirty gray ; in the female, the general 



