Bovid/E. MAMMALIA. iEGoscEiiiD.E. 
163 
similar to those of the caraboii, hut are rather longer 
and narrower. These oxen assemble in herds of from 
twenty to thirty, rut about the end of August and the 
beginning of September, .and bring forth one calf about 
the latter end of May or beginning of June. Ilearne, 
from the circumstance of few bulls being seen, supposes 
Fig. 57. 
The Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus). 
that they kill each other for the cows. If the hunters 
keep themselves concealed when they fire upon a herd 
of Musk oxen, the poor animals mistake the noise for 
thunder, and, forming themselves into a group, crowd 
nearer and nearer together as their companions fall 
around them ; but should they discover their enemies 
by sight, or by their sense of smell, which is very 
acute, the whole hei’d seek for safety by instant flight. 
The bulls, however, are very irascible ; and, particu- 
larly when wounded, will often attack the hunter, and 
endanger his life, unless he possesses both activity and 
presence of mind. The Esquimaux, who are well 
accustomed to the pursuit of this animal, sometimes 
turn its irritable disposition to good account ; for an 
expert hunter, having provoked a bull to attack him, 
wheels round it more quickly than it can turn, and by 
repeated stabs in the belly puts an end to its life.” 
The Musk ox is most abundant in comparatively in- 
accessible districts, where rocks and craggy slopes, 
unadorned with trees, seem to form its special home. 
If it could he more easily procured, the woolly fur, 
finer than that of the bison, would be much more 
extensively employed for economic purposes. Accord- 
ing to an authority recently quoted, the carcass of the 
Musk ox, exclusive of the offal, weighs about three 
hundredweight. When well fattened, the flesh of the 
cow has a tolerably pleasant flavour ; but that of the 
males or females, when lean, has a musky taste, and is 
both tough and highly coloured. We have said that the 
foot-prints of this animal can scarcely be distinguished 
from those of the reindeer ; but according to the ex- 
perience of Mr. Peterson, who accompanied Dr. Kane 
on his arctic travels, those of the ox are much larger, 
hut not wider. Behind the prints there were slight 
brushings of the snow, caused by hair growing from 
the pastern joints. 
Family II.— iEGOSCERIDiE. 
Partly for convenience sake we here associate under 
the above title the closely allied genera represented by 
the sheep and goats. It is admitted that, in a purely 
zoological or anatomical point of view, it is difficult 
to impart a separate family definition to this group ; 
nevertheless there is a tout ensemble about these ani- 
mals which, in our opinion, justifies such a step. Even 
the most superficial observer cannot fail to notice a 
very marked difference in the general aspect of these 
creatures, when compared with oxen properly so called. 
The goats are characterized chiefly by their long horns, 
which are directed upwards and backw^ards, are more 
or less angular in front, rounded behind, and generally 
maiked by transverse bars or ridges. The chin is 
clothed with a long beard. On the other hand, the 
sheep, wdiich have no beard, have the horns directed 
at first backwards, and subsequently bent spirally for- 
w-ard. None of the members of this family exhibit the 
lachrymal sinuses, so characteristic of the majority of 
the antelopes and deer. The value of these animals 
to man is too w'cll known to require lengthened 
comment. 
THE SHEEP {Ovis (tries ). — Any attempt to enu- 
merate or describe the principal varieties of sheep 
would, in a work like the present, be quite out of place. 
It is impossible to determine with certainty how many 
species of sheep exist; but there is reason to believe 
that all the forms may he reduced to one or two original 
species. Our domesticated breeds are supposed to be 
