416 WILD ANIMALS. 



the surrounding deserts, wliere the scanty herbage finds little 

 encouragement to grow, owing to the constant cold and the violent 

 storms of wind which rage throughout the greater part of the 

 year. In these inhospitable wastes, in the midst of a desolate 

 nature, yet far removed from pitiless man, the famous long-haired 

 ox roams in unrestricted freedom." 



These animals are endowed with enormous strength, and such 

 an excellent sense of smell that they can scent a man half a mile 

 to windward, but their sight and hearing are so defective that 

 they cannot see or hear him at any great distance. Their intelli- 

 gence is also of a low order. 



Except at the rutting season the old bulls are generally found 

 singly, or in small herds of three or five, while the cows and calves 

 assemble in such enormous herds that they frequently experience 

 a difficulty in finding sufficient food. 



Although not very fleet of foot yet they climb nimbly over the 

 loftiest and rockiest mountains, and are found in places where 

 but few other animals could obtain a footing. 



Indolence is described as a prominent trait in the character 

 of these wild yaks. " They feed morning and evening," Preje- 

 valsky writes, " passing the rest of the day in unbroken repose, 

 either lying or standing : at such times the only sign of life they 

 show is in chewing the cud, otherwise they are as motionless as 

 statues, even keeping the head in one position, and this for hours 

 together." 



Wild yak shooting is exciting and dangerous sport, for a 

 wounded animal will often charge and evince such a tenacity of 

 life that even a well-directed shot will not immediately kill, except 

 in very occasional instances. 



The Mongols are said to be so terribly afraid of these animals, 

 that if a caravan chance to come upon one lying down in a narrow 

 defile, they will halt, and not venture to resume their journey till 

 the animal has risen. 



Messrs. Hue and Gabet,'' during their journey, came to that river 

 of many names, known to Europeans as Yang-dze-kiang, or blue 



' " Souvenirs d'mi Voyage dans la Tartarie, la Thibet, at la Chine, pendant les 

 annees 1844, 1845, et 1846," par E. E. Hue. 



