MUSK-OX. 
51 
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 herd seek for safety by instant flight. 
The bulls, however, are very irascible, and particularly when wounded 
will often attack the hunter and endanger his life, unless he possess 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 wool of the Musk-Ox resembles that 
of the bison, but is perhaps finer, and would no doubt be highly useful in. 
the arts if it could be procured in sufficient quantity.” — Richardson , F. B. 
A., p. 27 7. 
“ The Musk-Oxen killed on Melville Island during Parry’s visit, were 
very fat, and their flesh, especially the heart, although highly scented with 
musk, was considered very good food. When cut up it had all the appear- 
ance of beef for the market. Hearne says that the flesh of the Musk-Ox 
does not at all resemble that of the bison, but is more like that of the 
moose, and the fat is of a clear white, tinged with light azure. The young 
cows and calves furnish a very palatable beef, but that of the old bulls is 
so intolerably musky as to be excessively disagreeable.” — Godman, vol. 
iii. p. 35. 
According to Parry, this animal weighs about seven hundred pounds. 
The head and hide weigh about one hundred and thirty pounds. “ The 
horns are employed for various purposes by the Indians and Esquimaux,, 
especially for making cups and spoons. From the long hair growing on 
the neck and chest the Esquimaux make their musquito wigs, to defend 
their faces from those troublesome insects. The hide makes good soles for 
shoes and is much used for that purpose by the Indians.” 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
The Musk-Ox resorts to the barren lands of America lying to the north 
of the 60th parallel of north latitude. Hearne mentions that he once saw 
the tracks of one in the neighbourhood of Port Churchill, lat. 59° ; and in 
his first journey to the north he saw many in the latitude of 61°. At 
present, according to what is said, they do not reach the shores of Hudson’s 
Bay : farther to the westward they are rarely seen in any number, lower 
than lat. 67°. Richardson states that he had not heard of their being 
seen on the banks of Mackenzie’s river to the southward of Great Bear 
lake. They range over the islands which lie to the north of the American 
