272 ZOOLOGY. 



which, with the Turks, serve to distinguish the superior 

 officer*!, 



The musk ox is an inhabitant of the more northern parts 

 of North America. Il elimhs over rocks like a goat 

 odour is peculiar; hence the name; and its horns are united in 

 the middle of the forehead. 



The American bison strongly 

 resemUes the aurochs, hut has tin- 

 limbs shorter, and differs in some 

 other respects, as in having the 

 haii- longer. 



The genus sheep (ovis) differs 

 but little from the goat. Their 

 horns are disposed to become spiral ; 

 they have no beard, and have the 

 forehead convex. 

 Tig. 213. Musk Ox. A w >^ species called argali, with 



very large horns, seems to be the 



original of the domestic sheep. They are found in great 

 numbers in Kamtschatka ; in all the lofty mountainous re- 

 gions of Asia ; in the higher ranges of those of Barbary, 

 Corsica, and Greece. It grows to a large size, and is very 

 agile. 



The mouflon (Fig. 214), found in Europe and Africa, differs 

 from the argali in this, that it never attains the same si/e. 

 The female rarely has horns, and when present they are small. 

 Varieties of the mouflon exist. Some are white, others more 

 or less black. They live in troops. 



The domestic sheep when young is called a lamb : the 

 female is called an ewe ; the male, a ram ; it is too well known to 

 require any zoological description. The variety called merino, 

 remarkable for the fineness of its fleece, and at one time 

 limited to Spain, has been extensively introduced into Frai.ee 

 and Germany, both as a pure breed and as crossed with others. 

 Five hundred thousand of the pure breed exist in France. 

 The clip takes place in the month of .May. 



The goat resembles the sheep as regards the horns: hut 

 it differs in the direction they take. Its clianfrein, or 

 face and head, is concave, and it has a beard. All the 

 species of this genus belong to Europe and Asia : they live in 

 small troops amongst the rocks, and display astonishing 

 a-jility. 



The ;egagre, or wild goat, seemingly the origin of all the 



