THE HORNED ANIMALS— OX TRIBE. 



467 



The hair is generally short and sleek, but is some- 

 times developed into a mane on certain parts of the 

 body. 



The Ox Tribe All Europe, Africa, central and 

 Widely Distributed southern Asia, as well as the north- 

 Over the Earth. ern portions of America maybe re- 

 garded as the native country of the Ox tribe; at 

 present the species which have been subjected to 

 the dominion of Man, are distributed over all parts 

 of the globe. The wild species inhabit the most 

 widely variant localities, some affecting dense wood- 

 land; others, open grassy spots, some delighting in 

 plains, others in mountains, where they may ascend 

 to a height of sixteen thousand or twenty thousand 

 feet. Some prefer swampy situations and moors, 

 others dry regions. Very few live habitually in one 

 place; nearly all lead a roving life. Those which 



swimmers, and cross the widest streams without hes- 

 itation. Their strength is uncommonly great, their 

 endurance wonderful. Among the perceptive senses 

 that of smell ranks first; hearing is also acute, but 

 sight is not so well developed. The mental capaci- 

 ties are of a low order; the wild species, however, 

 display much more intelligence than the tame ones. 

 The character of the Ox tribe is manifold and 

 widely at variance in the different species. On the 

 whole, they are gentle and trustful toward creatures 

 which are not dangerous to them or do not annoy 

 them; but they also may upon occasion become ex- 

 ceedingly fierce, pugnacious and courageous. If they 

 are irritated, they charge at the strongest beasts of 

 prey, regardless of any peril, and know how to em- 

 ploy their weapons with such skill and effect that 

 they frequently come out victorious. In general 



THE MUSK-OX.- — This inhabitant of the arctic regions of America is an intervening genus between the Sheep and the Ox. It is clothed with 

 brown hair, nearly a yard in length, covering the thick, woolly under fur. The horns of the adult male meet in the middle line of the forehead, as shown 

 in the picture. It is heavily built, with short legs, but climbs rocks and precipices with ease. (Ovibos mosclwtus.) 



inhabit mountains descend into the valleys in winter; 

 those living in the north move southward; others 

 migrate, urged by lack of food, seeking more abun- 

 dant pasturage. The species are, without exception, 

 gregarious and congregate in herds, under the lead- 

 ership of strong, experienced animals. Some spe- 

 cies band together by thousands. Old males occa- 

 sionally segregate themselves from the herd and 

 lead the life of hermits. 



Physical Attri- All Oxen in their movements appear 

 butes of the lumbering and slow, but they are per- 

 Ox Tribe. fectly well able to travel at a rapid 

 rate; and they display a great many more accom- 

 plishments than one would give them credit for. 

 Their usual gait is a slow walk; but they can also 

 trot and occasionally break into a remarkably awk- 

 ward but swift gallop. The species inhabiting moun- 

 tains are masterly climbers. All are accomplished 



their disposition one toward another is peaceable, 

 though they fight with a decided ferocity at certain 

 times. The usual vocal expression of the species 

 consists of a bellowing or " lowing " of a variable 

 pitch, or of a grunt and growl, generally emitted 

 under the influence of excitement. 



The Diet Plants of a great variety constitute 

 of the the food of the animals of the Ox 



Tube. tribe. They consume foliage and 



tender buds, shoots and branches of the greatest 

 variety of trees, herbage, bark of trees, moss and 

 lichens, aquatic plants and those growing in bog 

 and swamps, even sharp reed-grass and reed-like 

 plants. In the domestic state or in captivity they 

 feed on all kinds of vegetables. They are all very 

 fond of salt, and water is indispensable for them; 

 some delight in wallowing in muddy pools or lie in 

 rivers or ponds for hours. 



