680 
U. S. P. E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
OYIBOS, Blainville. 
Ovibos, Blainville, “Bull. Soc. Philom. 1816.’’ 
Acd. & Bach. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1853, 46. 
Hoofs broad, indexed at the tips. Tail very short. No naked muffle, except a small space between the nostrils, which 
is not furrowed. Horns very broad and much approximated at the base, bending rapidly downwards. Hair very long 
and pendent. 
' The musk ox is one of the most interesting of American animals, and at the same time one 
of which, on account of its geographical distribution, is very little known. In the hairy muffle, 
long, straight, pendent and soft hair, and short tail, with other features, it hears a strong re¬ 
semblance to the sheep and goats, and in a strictly natural arrangement will he placed quite 
near to them. But one living species is known, although several fossil ones are indicated hy 
authors. 
OYIBOS MOSCHATUS. 
Musk Ox. 
Bos moschatus, Zimmermann, Geog. Geschichte, II, 1780,86. 
Gsielin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788,205. 
Godman, Am. N. H. Ill, 29. 
Wagner, Schreber’s Saugt. Y, n, 1838, 1706 ; pi. cccii A, cccii B. 
Bos ( Ovibos) moschatus, Wagner, Suppl. Schreber, IV, 1844, 512.—Ib. V, 1855, 471. 
Ovibos moschatus, “Blainville, Bull. Soc. Phil. 1816.” 
Desmarest, Mamm. II, 1822, 492. 
Harlan, F. Am. 1825, 265. 
Richardson, F. B. Am. I, 1829, 275.— Ib. Zoology of Herald, Fossil Mammals, i, 1852, 66 ; 
n, 119 ; pi. ii, v, xi, xii, (osteology.) 
Ogilby, Pr. Zool. Soc. Lond. IY. 1836, 137. 
Aud. & Bach. N. Am. Quad. HI, 1853, 46 ; pi. cxi. 
Baird, Rep. U. S. Pat. Off. Agricultural for 1851, (1852,) 121; plate. 
Musk bison, Pennant, Hist. Quad. 1781, No. 9 .—Ib. Arctic Zool. I, 1784, 8. 
gp. Ch.—“A dult male, size of a two year old cow. Horns united on the summit of the head, flat, broad, bent down 
against the cheeks, with the points turned up. Color brownish black.”— Aud. &c Bach. 
Without any specimen at hand of this species, I refer to the authors quoted above for a 
description of its habits and peculiarities. As already stated, some of its characters approach 
that of the Ovine group, especially the end of the snout, which is hairy, with only a small 
naked space between the nostrils. I have given a rude diagram of this feature, as hastily 
sketched from the mounted animal in the museum of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural 
Sciences. 
The musk ox is very rare in collections, the only one in the United States being that in the 
Philadelphia Academy, presented by Dr. Kane, who received it from the arctic seas. 
This animal, as a living species, is confined to the barren grounds of arctic America, beyond 
60°, extending northward as far as land is found. It is said to occur fossil at Eschscholtz bay, 
