189 
THE MUSK OX. 
Ovibos moschatus, — ^Hlaikville. 
PLATE XXIII. 
Bos moschatus of Authors.— Mask Ox, Hearne, Pennant, 
Ovibos moschatus, Blainville, Nouveau Dictionnaire. 
This animal may perhaps have an appropriate sta- 
tion as an intermediate form, connecting this division 
with the sheep, wliich De Blainville has endeavoured 
to express in his generic name. Tlie appearance of 
the countenance, the long hair, or rather a sort of 
wool, ally it with the latter; while tlie horns and 
other parts of the form bring it nearer to the oxen, 
with which, by common consent, its namers, * whe- 
ther scientific or otherwise, have combined it. 
The Musk Ox inhabits the barren lands of Ame- 
rica lying to the northward of the 60th degree of la- 
titude, and ranges to Melville Island over the islands 
which lie to the north of the American continent. 
They frequent country destitute of wood, rocky and 
barren, and they feed alternately on grass or lichens. 
They assemble in herds of thirty or forty, and are 
• The Cree and Copper Indians have names'which sig- 
nify “ ugly and little Bison.” — Jlichuvdson. 
