COW KIND. 249 



kinds in a state of nature, and does not proper- 

 ly make the characteristic marks of any.* The 

 particular kind of noise also which some of them 

 are known to make, which rather resembles 

 grunting than bellowing or lowing, is but a sa- 

 vage variety, which many wild animals have, and 

 yet lose when brought into a state of tameness. 

 For these reasons, M. Buffbn, whom I have fol- 

 lowed in this description, is of opinion, that the 

 zebu, or little African cow, and the grunting, or 

 Siberian cow, are but different races of the bison, 

 as the shape of the horns, or the length of the 

 hair, are never properly characteristic marks of 

 any animal, but are found to vary with climate, 

 food, and cultivation. 



[* The Musk Ox is but of small size, being rather lower than the deer, 

 but larger or thicker in body, with short legs and a very short tail. The 

 hair in the male is of a dusky red colour, extremely fine, and so long as to 

 trail on the ground, and render the animal a seemingly shapeless mass, 

 without distinction of head or tail. Beneath the hair, on all parts of the 

 animal, is a very fine wool, which when manufactured into stockings is said 

 to be more beautiful than silk. The horns are large, and very remarkable : 

 they are united at their origin in the skull ; but immediately after, they fall 

 down on each side of the crown of the head, then taper away small, the 

 points turning up. The cow, or female, differs from the male, in having the 

 horns much smaller, and placed at the distance of nine inches from each 

 other at the base. These animals frequent the country about 100 miles in- 

 wards to the north-west of Churchill river, in Hudson's Bay, where they are 

 very numerous. They delight most in rocky and barren mountains, and 

 are seldom found at any great distance through the woods. Though a beast 

 of considerable magnitude and apparently unwieldy form, yet it climbs the 

 rocks with great ease and agility, and is nearly as stre- footed as a goat. 

 The calves and young heifers are very good eating; but the flesh of the bulls 

 both smells and tastes so strongly of musk, as to render it very disagreeable. 

 " Of the tail of this animal," says Mr Pennant, " the Esquimaux of Hud- 

 son's Bay make a cap of the most horrible appearance ; for the hairs fall all 

 round their heads, and cover their faces ; yet it is of singular service in keep- 

 ing off the musquetoes, which would otherwise be intolerable."] 



