THE MUSK OX. 653 



about the month of September; and after a long and leisurely march, 

 they arrive at the pasture-grounds, which are recognized instinctively 

 by the sheep. In these pasturages the winter folds are prepared, and 

 here are born the young Merinos, which generally enter the world in 

 March, or the beginning of April. Toward the end of that month the 

 sheep begin to be restless, and unless they are at once removed, will 

 often decamp of their own accord. Sometimes a whole flock will thus 

 escape, and, guided by some marvelous instinct, will make their way to 

 their old quarters unharmed, except perchance by some prowling wolf, 

 who takes advantage of the shepherd's absence. 



THE HIGHLAND SHEEP. 



The Highland Sheep (Plate L) partakes in a great degree of the 

 character of the wild animal. Pasturing together in enormous herds, 

 and living upon vast ranges of bleak, hilly country, the light and active 

 Highland Sheep is a very intelligent and independent creature, quite 

 distinct in character from the large, woolly, unintellectual animal that 

 lives only in the fold, and is regularly supplied with its food by the care- 

 ful hand of its guardian. It is very sensitive to atmospheric influences, 

 and is so ready in obeying the directions of its own instinct, that a good 

 shepherd when he first rises in the morning can generally tell where to 

 find his sheep, merely by noticing the temperature, the direction of the 

 wind, and the amount of moisture in the air and on the ground. As the 

 Highland Sheep is liable to wander to considerable distances from its 

 proper home, the shepherd is aided in his laborious task by several of 

 those wonderful dogs whose virtues and powers have already been 

 recorded in the course of this work. 



GENUS OVIBOS. 



The Musk Ox, Ovibos moschatus (Plate XLVI), the only species, is found 

 in the Hudson Bay Territory, West Greenland, and other districts of 

 Arctic America. It is a remarkable blending of the types of the ox and 

 the sheep. Anatomy shows that it is more nearly allied to the latter. 

 Richardson writes concerning it : " Notwithstanding the shortness of its 

 legs, the Musk Ox runs fast, and climbs hills and rocks with great ease. 



