THE OX GROUP. 



"5 



and that these different species have con- 

 tributed to produce the various breeds of 

 domesticated sheep, which can easily be 

 crossed with one another or with the still 

 existing species of wild sheep. 



The Ox Group. 



The members of this group (Bovida) are 

 distinguished from the other hollow-horned 



ruminants by the massive forms of their bodies 

 and skeletons, and their smooth round un- 

 ringed horns, which have a decided curve and 

 a hollow bony core. The forehead is broad, 

 and so also is the moist and naked muffle. 

 From the neck depends a dewlap; the long 

 round tail ends in a tuft of hair; the hoofs 

 are broad, and there are no accessory hoofs; 

 the tear-pits are absent. On the cheek-teeth, 



Fig. 191. — The Musk-ox [Ovibos moschatus). page 116. 



at the point where the half- moon -shaped 

 lamellae meet, there stands a small column, 

 which in the upper cheek-teeth is situated 

 on the inner surface, in the lower ones on 

 the outer surface. Like most ruminants they 

 live in herds under the lead of an old male, 

 are peaceable and gentle in disposition 

 through indolence, but become terrible and 

 dangerous during accesses of fury. When 

 attacked they arrange themselves in a circle 

 and show their horns to the enemy. They 

 are fond of plains and marshy tracts. 



In this group we are acquainted with two 

 animals which form connecting links with 



other cavicornia, the anoa forming the tran- 

 sition to the antelopes, and the musk-ox to 

 the sheep. 



The Anoa of the Malays {Probubalus 

 {Anoa) depressicornis), fig. 190, has the form 

 and general bearing of a young cow, for it 

 attains the height of only about four and a 

 half feet at the withers. The forehead is 

 broad, but the head becomes more pointed 

 towards the naked muffle. The ear is small 

 and pointed, the eyes are large and promi- 

 nent. The much-compressed horns, rounded 

 on the outer edge, but with almost a cutting 

 keel on the inner edge, are pretty straight, 



