CHAPTER XV. 
THE MUSK-OX— DESCRIPTION AND HAUNTS— PACH YD ERMATA— THE 
PECCARY— WHERE MET WITH— CETACEA OR WHALES— DIFFER- 
ENCE BETWEEN EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN ANIMALS— DIVERSI- 
TY OF CLIMATE DEVELOPING SPECIES-PROBABLE EXTINCTION 
OF CERTAIN CLASSES-CONCLUSION. 
The Musk-Ox (Bos Moschatus') is found exclusively in 
the Arctic regions, preferring even there the most barren and 
desolate parts. Nature, who adapts the wants of her progeny 
to all emergencies, has paid especial attention to the coat of 
these animals, by covering them with long dense hair, the inner 
or fine hair corresponding to the fur of the bison ; the outer 
covering, is long thick straggling bushy hair, which envelopes 
the body, hanging nearly to the ground, and thus gives it a 
very singular appearance from the shortness of its legs. The 
eye of the Musk-Ox is very prominent, projecting a consider- 
able distance from the frontal bone. Captain Parry thinks the 
object of this is, to carry it clear of the quantity of hair 
required to preserve the warmth of the head, when the 
terrors and rigors of an Arctic winter are encountered by 
this sturdy animal. 
Richardson, another Arctic explorer, says, they never pene- 
trate the woods, — if woods they can be called, where a few 
stunted junipers and pines only serve to accumulate the drift- 
ing snow, — but procure their food in winter, on the steep 
sides of the hills which are laid bare by the winds, feeding 
on the moss and lichens with which the rocks are covered, in 
lieu of herbage ; up these hills they climb with an agility that 
their massive aspect would not lead one to suppose them 
capable of. The same traveller says they have no tails ; he 
must however either never have procured this animal, or else 
taken a very cursory glance of them when procured, for the 
