The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-02-15
MUSK OK.

A specimen of the skin of the musk o,
sent to England by Hearne, the celebrated
traveller, gave Pennant the opportunity o.
describing and systematically arranging it
which NJ. Blainville has placed, as its Latir
name implies, in genus intermediate be
tween the sheep and OK. A slight infor
nation of it had been previously obtained
through the medium of NJ. Jeremie, who
has the credit Of having first brought il
into public notice by the produce of some
stockings made from its wool, which were
pearance than silk. By its dense woolly
coat, it is effectually protected from the
severest weather; and the shortness of its
legs renders it admirably suited to the
barren grounds, of which it forms one o.
the characteristic inhabitants.
By the term "barren," the traders desig
nate the north corner of the American
continent, of which the extreme point il
Melville Peninsula. These lands have re-
celved that appellation on account of being
destitute of wood, except on the banks Of
some of the larger rivers that traverse them
From this circumstance, the traders have
not formed there any settlements. The
district is generally featured with primitive
rocks, consisting of an assemblage of low
hills, with rounded SUBMITS, more or less
precipitous, and separated by narrow val.
legs. An imperfect peat earth, covering
the lower grounds, nourishes few stunted
willows, glandular dwarf birches, black
spruce trees, or larches; but the soil more
generally consists Of minute debris of rock,
forming a dry, coarse, quartzose sand, un-
fit for supporting anything but lichens.
In all the longer valleys, lakes of trans
parent waters are met with, containing
fish; some of these are perfectly land lock
ed, but the greater number are connected
by rapid and turbulent stream, and thus
they flow outwards to the sea.
In these barren and desolate parts OF
the earth, the musk OK remains both winter
and summer, contented and happy; feeding,
like the caribou, on grass at one season,
and on lichens at another; either climbing
the most precipitous situations, with all
the agility and precision of the chamois, or
mountain goat, or seeking the valleys
either in search of more luxuriant food, or
shelter from the raging winds.
When fat, their flesh is palatable enough,
and although of coarse grain, resembles
the caribou, but when in lean state, it is
rendered far inferior to that of any other
Illuminating animal in North America,
owing to its being tainted with strong
flaver of musk, which is more particularly
the case with bulls. Although it exceeds
the weight of the caribou by two-thirds,
the hoofs of the musk OK are so similar to
those of tho former animal in form, that
it requires tho experience of practiced
hunter to distinguish the difference; those
of the musk OK are, however, rather larger
and narrower.
These animals assemble in smaller herds
than the other quadrupeds of the north,
seldom more than twenty or thirty being
seen at one time; from which circumstance,
together with the rocky situation they are
in the habit &C frequenting, it is the most
easy matter to approach them; and if the
hunter has the precaution to keep himself
concealed, he may destroy, one after anoth-
er, the whole herd. Instead of betaking
themselves to flight, they crowd closer and
closer together, as their companions fall
around them; which has been attributed to
their mistaking the report of a gun for
thunder, as, notwithst anding the short
ness eff their legs they can run extremely
fast. Should they, however, discover their
enemies by sight, or by their sense of smell;
which is extremely acute, the cows imme-
diately have recourse to fight; while the
bulls, being of more irascible nature,
attack the hunter, whose life is placed in
great jeopardy, unless he possesses both &C
tivity and presence of mind.
The musk OK inhabits the billy, barren
grounds between the Welcome and Copper
mou ntains, from the 63d or Gath parallel to
the Arctic sea, and west towards Parry s
islands or as far as civilized man has
penetrated. How much farther they pro-
coed, it is, of course, at present impossible
to say. They travel from place to place in
search of pasture, but do not penetrate
deep into the wooded districts, and are
able to procure food in winter on the steep
sides Of hills, which their massive aspect
would seem to render impossible. In size
they are nearly equal to the smallest High
land cattle, but they are more compactly
made, and the shaggy hair of their TANKS
almost touches the ground. In structure
they differ from the domestic OK in the
shortness and strength of the bones Of the
neck and the length of the dorsal processes
which support the ponderous head. The
swelling bases of the horns spread over the
forehead of both ssxes-in the males COM
ing nearly in contact. The animal is desti-
tute of tal.-American Sportsman,
TEA fellow, on being asked to write a
testimonial for patent clothes wringer,
produced the following: 81 am immensely
pleased with it. | purchased load of
wood, which proved green and unfit to
burn. ran the whole load through your
nlothes-wrnser. and have used the wood
for kinding ever since"
u" Oak Hall may lie the popular cloth
ing house but to have your clothes clean
use MOORE & Bros Wlmington City Soap.