304 BIG GAME OF NOETH AMERICA. 



in Siberia, and in Northern Europe; but only one species 

 of their living descendants is now found, and that is con- 

 fined to the Arctic region of the Western Hemisphere. 



It has heretofore been supposed that the Musk-ox was 

 a migratory animal; but as some of them .were seen by 

 Sergeant Brainard and others of our party as early as 

 March, when the snow is deepest and the temperature 

 lowest, it must be taken for granted that he is a regular- 

 habitant of Grrinnell Land and Northern Greenland all the 

 year round. 



The Musk-oxen travel in herds, and it is but an excep- 

 tion when one of them is found alone. This herding 

 together gives them a better chance to defend themselves 

 against their one enemy, the Arctic Wolf, and also gives 

 them, through close contact, additional warmth and pro- 

 tection against cold and winds. Animals traveling singly 

 were generally found to be old bulls, who had probably 

 been driven from their herds by their younger and stronger 

 adversaries. 



The Musk-ox prefers the hill-country, but is often found 

 in the low, level countries, either along the coast or farther 

 inland. He is called by the Eskimo Oo-ming-rrmng. These 

 simple Arctic people live principally on seal-fat and whale- 

 blubber. They occasionally, however, hunt the Reindeer, 

 more for the purpose of procuring skins for clothing and 

 bedding than for the change" of diet. Still more rarely, they 

 plan a trip into the interior in quest of the Musk-ox, both for 

 the purpose of varying their bill of fare and of procuring the 

 great, soft robes for bedding or for barter. In hunting this 

 animal the natives use dogs — the same ones that are used in 

 drawing their sledges over the inhospitable wastes of snow 

 and ice that cover the habitat of these people. Their method 

 of hunting the Musk-ox is most novel and interesting, and 

 I can not describe it better than in the language of Lieut. 

 Frederick Schwatka. In an article contributed to the Ameri- 

 can Field, in 1889, that popular writer and explorer says: 



"When the native hunter has reached the Musk-ox 

 country, and has built his snow-house on the shores of some 



