THE MUSK-OX. 



BY HENRY BIEDERBICK, 



Of the Greely Arctic Expedition. 



animal derives its specific name from the pecul- 

 iar flavor by which the meat of some of these 

 animals is tainted. He averages in size about two- 

 thirds that of the Bison, but, on account of his 

 great coat of hair, looks much larger than he really is. 

 The Musk-ox seems to form a connecting-link between the 

 Ox and the Sheep families, having many of the character- 

 istics of each. He looks somewhat like a huge ram, his 

 broad, rolling horns adding much to this similarity. He is 

 covered with thick, long hair of a dark-brown color, which, 

 however, changes somewhat with the seasons. Animals 

 killed by our party in May proved to be much lighter in 

 color than those killed later in the season. 



Under this coat of hair, the Musk-ox is covered with a 

 thick sheeting of soft wool of the finest texture and of a 

 light-brown color. 



The horns are large and broad, are formed somewhat 

 like snow-shovels, and are used in removing the snow in 

 order to reach their scanty food during the winter months. 

 The meat is coarse-grained, but generally juicy and tender, 

 especially that of the younger animals. The peculiar 

 musky flavor can be obviated by dressing the animal as 

 soon as killed. 



The range of the Musk-ox is extensive. He abounds on 

 the northern shores of Greenland east and west as far as 

 explored, on both sides of Smith Sound, and in Arctic 

 America, from latitude 60 to 83 north, longitude 67 30' 

 west, to near the Pacific Coast. Fossilized Musk-oxen have 

 been found at Escholtz Bay, on the Northwest Coast, 



(303) 



