BOVID/E." 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-^GOSCEKTD/E. 



1G3 



bimilar to tliose of tlie caraboii, but are ratlicr longer 

 and narrower. Tliose oxen assemble in herds of from 



beginning of September, and biing forth one calf about 

 the latter end of May or beginrung of Jmie. Ilearne, 



twenty to tlmty, rut about the end of August and tlie from the cu'cimistance of few bulls being seen, supposes 



Fig, 57. 



The Musk Ox (Ovibos moscliatus). 



that they kill each other for tlie cows. If the hunters 

 keep themselves concealed when they fire upon a herd 

 of Musk oxen, the poor animals mistake the noise for 

 thunder, and, forming themselves into a group, crowd 

 nearer and nearer together as their companions fall 

 around them ; but should tliey discover their enemies 

 by sight, or by their sense of smeU, which is very 

 acute, the whole herd seek for safety by instant flight. 

 The bulls, however, are very irascible ; and, particu- 

 larly when wounded, wll often attack the hunter, and 

 endanger his life, unless he possesses both activity and 

 presence of mind. The Esquimaux, who are well 

 accustomed to the pursuit of tliis animal, sometimes 

 tuni its iiTitable disposition to good account ; for an 

 expert himter, liaving provoked a bull to attack him, 

 wheels romid it more quickly than it can turn, and by 

 repeated stabs in the belly puts an end to its Kfe." 

 The Musk ox is most abundant in comparatively m- 

 accessible districts, where rocks and craggy slopes, 

 unadorned \vitl\ trees, seem to form its special home. 

 If it could be more easily procured, the woolly fur, 

 finer than tliat of the bison, woidd be much more 

 extensively employed for economic puiqioses. Accord- 

 ing to an authority recently quoted, the carcass of the 

 Musk ox, exclusive of the offal, weighs about three 

 lumdredweight. Wlien well fattened, the flesh of the 

 cow has a tolerably pleasant flavom- ; but tliat of the 

 males or females, when lean, has a musky taste, and is 

 both tough and highly coloured. We have said that the 

 foot-prints of this animal can scarcely bo distinguished 

 from those of the remdeer; but according to the ex- 

 perience of Mr. Peterson, who accompanied Dr. Kane 

 on his arctic travels, those of the ox are much larger, 

 Viut not wader. Behind the prmts there were slight 



brashings of the snow, caused by hair growijig fnjm 

 the pastern joints. 



Family II.— iEGOSCERIDiE. 



Partly for convenience sake we here associate under 

 the above title the closely allied genera represented by 

 the sheep and goats. It is admitted that, in a purely 

 zoological or anatomical point ot view, it is difficult 

 to impart a separate family definition to this group ; 

 nevertheless there is a totit ensemble about these ani- 

 mals which, in our opinion, justifies such a step. Even 

 the most superficial observer cannot fail to notice a 

 very marked difference in the general aspect of these 

 creatures, when compared with oxen properly so called. 

 The goats are characterized chiefly by then' long horns, 

 which are directed upwards and backwards, are more 

 or less angular in fi-ont, rounded behind, and generally 

 marked by transverse bars or ridges. The chin is 

 clothed with a long beard. On the other hand, the 

 sheep, which have no beard, have the horns du-ectcd 

 at first backwards, and subsequently bent spirally for- 

 ward. None of the members of this family exhibit the 

 laclirymal sinuses, so characteristic of the majority of 

 the antelopes and deer. The value of these animals 

 to man is too well known to require lengthened 

 comment. 



THE SHEEP (Oct's aries). — Any attempt to enu- 

 merate or describe the principal varieties of sheep 

 woidd, in a work Uke the present, be quite out of place. 

 It is impossible to determme with certainty how many 

 species of sheep exist; but there is reason to believe 

 that aU the forms may be reduced to one or two original 

 species. Om- domesticated breeds are supposed to bo 



