OF THE LARGE AMERICAN MAMMALS 31 



than he owns its minerals or its water-power. He should 

 obey the general game laws, just the same as white men. In 

 Africa the white population wisely prohibits the natives, as 

 far as possible, from owning or using firearms, and a good idea 

 it is, too. I am glad there is one continent on which the 

 "I'm-just-as-good-as-you-are" nightmare does not curse the 

 whole land. 



THE MusK-Ox. Now that the north pole has been safely 

 discovered, the harried musk-ox herds of the farthest north 

 are having a rest. I think that most American sportsmen 

 have learned that as a sporting proposition' there is about as 

 much fun and glory in harrying a musk-ox herd with dogs, 

 and picking off the members of it at "parade rest," as there is 

 in shooting range cattle in a round-up. The habits of the 

 animal positively eliminate the real essence of sport diffi- 

 culty and danger. When a musk-ox band is chased by dogs, 

 or by wolves, the full-grown members of it, bulls and cows 

 alike, instantly form a close circle around the calves, facing 

 outward shoulder to shoulder, and stand at bay. Against an 

 enemy without a rifle, such a formation is invincible ! 



For some reason the musk-ox herds do not seem to have 

 perceptibly increased since man first encountered them. The 

 number alive to-day appears to be no greater than it was 

 fifty years ago; and this leads to the conclusion that the 

 present delicate balance could easily be disturbed the wrong 

 way. Fortunately, it seems reasonably certain that the 

 Indians of the Canadian Barren Grounds, the Eskimo of the 

 Far North and the stray explorers all live outside the haunts 

 of the species, and come in touch only with the edge of the 



