THE MUSK SHEEP OF ARCTIC AMERICA. 287 



result from the introduction of their wool into our 

 markets, as from its extreme length, elasticity, and 

 fineness, it could be manufactured into the most supe- 

 rior class of cloths. 



Their rutting season occurs at the breaking up of 

 the autumn, when the cold and fitful winds of October 

 commence to warn us that warmth is gone, and snow 

 and ice are coming. The male, who generally is very 

 inoffensive, unless he chance to receive a wound inca- 

 pacitating him from escape, becomes now most quarrel- 

 some and vindictive, attacking with the greatest fury 

 whatever provokes his displeasure ; and woe be to the 

 white man or Indian who then meets him, if away 

 from a place of escape or unprovided with fire-arms. 

 At this time furious engagements take place among 

 the males, which sometimes continue till one or both 

 of the contestants are so much exhausted that they fall 

 an easy prey to the Indian's arrows or the tusks of 

 the northern large grey wolf. 



In May the female produces a single lamb, over 

 whose welfare the mother shows great solicitude. The 

 young, until three or four weeks' old, are unable to 

 follow the parent, but are hid away in the manner 

 usual with deer ; the old lady, however, on such occa- 

 sions never wanders far from her offspring's hiding- 

 place, and on the least suspicion of danger rushes to 



