ii6 



CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



is carried comparatively high. Although in many wild forms 

 horns are present in both sexes, those of the male are specially 

 characteristic. Their form is more or less spiral, with the tips- 

 turned outwards; they are triangular in section, and marked by 

 numerous transverse wrinklings. The snout is pointed, and there 

 is usually a glandular pit below the eye, the tail is short, and a 



Fig. 79- — The Musk-Ox {Ovihos moschatus) 



bottle-shaped gland opens between the central toes of each foot. 

 Of the eleven existing wild species nine inhabit the mountainous 

 parts of Europe and Asia north of the Himalayas, while the 

 remaining three belong respectively to North-west India, North 

 Africa, and North America. The Bighorn {Ovis Canadensis) 

 and Mouflon (O. musimon) may be taken as illustrations. The 

 former ranges through the mountains of western North America 

 from Alaska to Mexico, while the latter is at the present time only- 

 found in Corsica and Sardinia. 



The same doubt attaches to the origin of tame sheep, which 



