2IO THE OX FAMILY 



few inches deep, but they usually keep to high table- 

 lands where the winds keep the snow blown off. The 

 character of their coat is such as to give them great 

 protection against cold and storm, and it is rare that 

 the northern herds seek any more protection from the 

 elements than what they find among the cliffs of rock. 

 The canadensis are more accustomed to being in timber 

 and often seek the higher belts of timber during storm, 

 and sometimes come down to the very bottom of the 

 canyons. 



" The dalH, the stonei, and the fannitti simply defy the 

 elements throughout the long Arctic and sub-Arctic 

 winters. Like most animals, they do not feed much 

 during severe storms, and will huddle closely, the little 

 fellows crouching alongside the older ones for warmth 

 and protection, while many of the adult males and 

 stronger animals grow restless, and prowl about, walk 

 the highest ridges, and nibble indifferently at the single 

 spears of grass found peeping through the snow here 

 and there. When the storm breaks they will at once 

 set out to some feeding-ground of which they have a 

 most perfect knowledge. They know their own home, 

 and always know where to look for food, even when it 

 would seem that every foot of their country was buried 

 deep in snow. It not infrequently happens, however, 

 that during storms they remain in some small rocky 

 cave and the winds drift the snow across their only 

 avenue of escape so deeply that they find their way out 

 with difficulty. The old males are always the first to 

 break their way out, and their superior strength is 

 often put to a severe test, but the road made by them 

 is of great advantage to the weaker and younger ani- 



