316 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



Mr. Stefansson, since his return, has laid his proposals 

 personally before the Canadian and United States Govern- 

 ments. In Canada, his proposals are now being considered 

 by a commission appointed for that purpose. It is evident 

 that if it can be experimentally demonstrated that the musk- 

 ox is capable of being domesticated or semi-domesticated, it 

 would furnish a factor of inestimable economic importance 

 in the agricultural development of large tracts of our north- 

 em regions which are at present producing only furs. 



The Zoological Society of New York has demonstrated 

 that the musk-ox can be kept in captivity even in a climate, 

 such as that of New York, totally different from the climate 

 to which these animals are accustomed in their native re- 

 gions of the north (Plate IV). Doctor Hornaday has kindly 

 furnished me with particulars of the animals that have been 

 obtained and kept by the Zoological Society of New York. 

 The first specimen was received in 1902, but hved only a 

 few months. A second specimen, which was received in the 

 same year, died an accidental death a month after its ar- 

 rival. The third specimen, which was captured as a calf 

 in the summer of 1909 on Melville Island, by Captain 

 Joseph E. Bernier, reached New York in November, 1909. 

 It fed well and kept in perfect health for five and one-half 

 years, but died in May, 1915. Doctor Hornaday states 

 that "she was so vicious that it was impossible to risk any of 

 the male specimens of the musk-ox herd [the Rainey musk- 

 ox herd mentioned below] in the corral with her. Her fierce 

 disposition robbed the Zoological Park of what would other- 

 wise have been a good opportunity to breed this species in 

 captivity." The food of this animal consisted of red-clover 

 hay and crushed oats. In the late spring of 1910 Mr. Paul 

 J. Rainey captured, on EUesmere Island, six musk-ox calves, 

 all of which were brought alive to the New York Zoological 

 Park, where they arrived in September, 1910. One died of 

 wounds received during capture, and malnutrition, in Oc- 



