THE STORY OF THE MUSK-OX 



As every school boy knows, the toad has a remarkable power of expan- 

 sion, which is used in time of danger to terrify the enemy. This is done by 

 inflation and probably does deter the small snake from attempting to swal- 

 low the enlarged toad. The musk-ox has a similar habit of showing his ugly 

 head lowered as though about to charge whenever he scents danger, but the 

 instant he is attacked he seeks safety in flight. The animal is found only in 

 Arctic America and exhales a strong musky odor at certain seasons of the 

 year. It is a heavy-built, hut not large creature with short legs, and a very 

 lengthy brown hair}^-coat, which almost reaches to the ground. Its horns 

 are very similar in form to those of the Cape buffalo, and in the bulls they 

 meet in the middle line of the forehead. The tail is very short, being entirely 

 hidden by the fur of the haunches. 



The musk-ox herd together in bands, and generally frequent barren 

 grounds during the summer months, keeping near the rivers, but retire to 

 the woods in winter. They seem to be less watchful than most other wild 

 animals, and when grazing are not difficult to approach, provided the hunters 

 go against the wind. When two or three men get so near a herd as to fire 

 at them from dififerent points, these animals, instead of separating or running 

 away, huddle closer together, and several are generally killed. The musk- 

 ox feed on the same substances as the reindeer; and the prints of the feet 



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