GOATS. MUSK-OX. 



31 



The Rocky Mountain Goat. This^minant Oreamnus montanus [C ase 52.] 



(1 1 14), is remarkable for its pure white 

 Genus Oreamnus. coa t— a type of coloration very rare 

 among Mammals. During the winter the hair is very long and 

 straight, but in summer is replaced by a much shorter coat. The 

 jet-black horns are very similar to those of the Serows, but behind 

 each is a large globular gland. There is no gland beneath the 

 eye. The cannon-bone in each leg is remarkably short and broad. 

 Although universally known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, the 

 animal is not a Goat in the proper sense of the term ; being 

 intermediate between the true Goats and the Antelopes. It is 

 generally found above or close to the upper limits of forests ; and 

 although active and agile in climbing, has but little speed. During 

 the warmer part of the year these animals are found alone or in 

 small parties, but in the late autumn and winter they congregate 

 in flocks of considerable size. They are far less shy and wary than 

 most mountain mammals, and are consequently not difficult to stalk. 



The Takin. The Takin, Budorcas taxicolor (1118), of the [Case 53.] 



Genus Mishmi Hills, north of the Assam Valley, is a clumsily 

 Budorcas. built Ruminant resembling the Rocky Mountain Goat 

 in its short and broad cannon-bones, and probably nearly related 

 to that animal, and more remotely to the Serows. From both it 

 is distinguished by the form of its horns, which, after bending 

 downwards and outwards for a short distance, suddenly change 

 their direction and point backwards. Beyond the fact that it is 

 a native of extremely elevated regions in Tibet, nothing has been 

 ascertained with regard to the habits of this Ruminant. The 

 typical Mishmi Takin is mainly a brown animal ; but in the 

 Tibetan Takin (B. taxicolor tibetanus, 1119, fig. 11), of Eastern 

 Tibet and North-West China, the colour of much of the long hair 

 is golden yellow. Specimens of the two races are shown. 



The Musk-Ox. Tne Musk-Ox (Ovibos moschatus, 1047, fig. 12), [Pavilion 



Genus which approaches the smaller Oxen in point of size, ^o^r ° f 



Ovibos. is probably a relative of the Takin and the Rocky Mammal 



Mountain Goat, with which it agrees in the short cannon-bones. Gallery, 

 mi ■ i i * r i , Case 45.1 



Ine animal derives its name irom the strong musky odour it 



exhales. A very characteristic feature of the Musk-Ox is to be 



found in the form of the horns, which are much flattened at their 



