THE MUSK-OX 197 



when I snap-shot him. He remained feeding on the 

 willows, so I went still nearer. He showed no signs of 

 fear, but I did, for I carried no arms. I ascended a 

 small knoll below which he was feeding, and thus got 

 within a few yards of him, and snap-shot him again. I 

 then wished for another shot in a different position, so 

 I threw a piece of rock at him which only produced an 

 angry shake of the head. I threw several other mis- 

 siles, but he only stood angrily shaking his head, paw- 

 ing the ground and making a low guttural grunt. I 

 took one more photo, and then retreated, leaving him 

 to finish his evening meal in peace. He remained npar 

 our camp all night." 



There are two excellent reasons why sportsmen do 

 not care to pursue the musk-ox. First, this animal 

 does not offer much sport, being quite easy to shoot 

 when once it is found, and second, the great journey 

 which must be undertaken into a land which is well- 

 named the Barren Grounds. Besides being easy to 

 shoot, the animal is comparatively worthless when shot. 

 Its flesh is coarse-grained and has a strong flavor, 

 which suggested the names musk-sheep or musk-ox. 

 Whitney describes it as tough and by no means pleas- 

 ing to the taste, and says that in the rutting season it 

 is uneatable. 



Mr. Hornaday, /rr contra, says : " Although this ani- 

 mal is called musk-ox, it has neither the odor nor taste 

 of musk, and its flesh is excellent food. General 

 Greely, Commander Peary and other explorers have 

 feasted on its flesh." 



Mr. Hanbury says . " The flesh, in spite of tlic strong 

 smell of musk, is excellent eating, but it is generally 



