BOVID; 



-MAMMALIA. ^GOSCERID^. 



163 



similar to those of the carabou, but are rather longer 

 and narrower. These oxen assemble in herds of from 

 twenty to thirty, rut about the end of August and the 



beginning of September, and bring forth one calf about 

 the latter end of May or beginning of June. Heurne, 



Fig. 57. 



The Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatnn) 



that they kill each other for the cows. If the hunters 

 keep themselves concealed when they fire upon a herd 

 of Musk oxen, the poor animals mistake the noise for 

 thunder, and, forming themselves into a group, crowd 

 nearer and nearer together as their companions fall 

 around them ; but should they discover their enemies 

 by sight, or by their sense of smell, which is very 

 acute, the whole herd seek for safety by instant flight. 

 The bulls, however, are very irascible ; and, particu- 

 larly when wounded, will often attack the hunter, and 

 endanger his life, unless he possesses both activity and 

 presence of mind. The Esquimaux, who are well 

 accustomed to the pursuit of this animal, sometimes 

 turn its irritable disposition to good account ; for an 

 expert hunter, having provoked a bull to attack him, 

 wheels round it more quickly than it can turn, and by 

 repeated stabs in the belly puts an end to its life." 

 The Musk ox is most abundant in comparatively in- 

 accessible districts, where rocks and craggy slopes, 

 unadorned with trees, seem to form its special home. 

 If it could be more easily procured, the woolly fur, 

 .finer than that of the bison, would be much more 

 extensively employed for economic purposes. Accord- 

 ing to an authority recently quoted, the carcass of the 

 Musk ox, exclusive of the offal, weighs about three 

 hundredweight. When well fattened, the flesh of the 

 cow has a tolerably pleasant flavour ; but that of the 

 males or females, when lean, has a musky taste, and is 

 both tough and highly coloured. We have said that the 

 foot-prints of this animal can scarcely be distinguished 

 from those of the reindeer; but according to the ex- 

 perience of Mr. Peterson, who accompanied Dr. Kane 

 on his arctic travels, those of the ox are much larger, 

 but not wider. Behind the prints there were slight 



brushings of the snow, caused by hair growing from 

 the pastern joints. 



FAMILY II. 



Partly for convenience sake we here associate under 

 the above title the closely allied genera represented by 

 the sheep and goats. It is admitted that, in a purely 

 zoological or anatomical point ot view, it is difficult 

 to impart a separate family definition to this group ; 

 nevertheless there is a tout ensemble about these ani- 

 mals which, in our opinion, justifies such a step. Even 

 the most superficial observer cannot fail to notice a 

 very marked difference in the general aspect of these 

 creatures, when compared with oxen properly so called. 

 The goats are characterized chiefly by their long horns, 

 which are directed upwards and backwards, are more 

 or less angular in front, rounded behind, and generally 

 marked by transverse bars or ridges. The chin is 

 clothed with a long beard. On the other hand, the 

 sheep, which have no beard, have the horns directed 

 at first backwards, and subsequently bent spirally for- 

 ward. None of the members of this family exhibit the 

 lachrymal sinuses, so characteristic of the majority of 

 the antelopes and deer. The value of these animals 

 to man is too well known to require lengthened 

 comment. 



THE SHEEP (Ovis aries). Any attempt to enu- 

 merate or describe the principal varieties of sheep 

 would, in a work like the present, be quite out of place. 

 It is impossible to determine with certainty how many 

 species of sheep exist ; but there is reason to believe 

 that all the forms may be reduced to one or two original 

 species. Our domesticated breeds are supposed to be 



