The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-03-01
0nr clio.
THE MUSK OK.

| - ~ N""s WV VPpottuhity VI
describing and systematically arranging
1t; which NJ. Blainville has placed, as its
Latin name implies, in genus intermedi-
ate between the sheep and OK. A slight
information Of 1t had been previously OBJ
taincd through the medium Of NJ. Jeremie,
who has the credit of having first brought
it into public notice by the produce Of
some stockings made from its wool, which
we're said to be even far more beautiful in
appearance than silk, By its dense wooly
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 Of
the characteristic inhabitants.
By the term "barren, the traders desig.
nate the north corner of the American
continent, Of which the extreme point is
Melville Peninsula. These lands have re-
ceiyed 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 trad
ers 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 mar
row valleys. An imperfect peat earth,
covering the lower grounds, nourishes
a>few stunted willows, glandular dwarf
birches, black spruce trees, or larches /;
but the soil more generally consists of
minute debris of rock, forming dry,
coarse, quartzose sand, unfit for supporting
anything but lichens. In all the longer
valleys, lakes of transparent waters are
met with, containing fish; some of these
are perfectly land-locked, but the greater
number are connected by rapid and
turbulent stream, and thus they flow out
Warus 10 the sea.
In these barren and desolate parts of
the earth, the musk OK remains both
winter and summer, content ID and happy;
feeding, like the caribou, on grass at on,
season, and on lichens at another; either
climbing the most procipitous situations,
with all the agility and precision of the
chamois, or mountain goat, or seeking the
valley-either in search of more luxuriant
food, or shelter from the raging winds.
When fat, their flesh is palatlble enough,
and although of coarse grain, resembles the
caribou, but when in lean state, it is
rendered far inferior to that of any other
ruminating animal in North America,
owing to its being tainted with a strong
favor 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 the former animal in form, that 1t
requires the 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 circun,.
stance, together with the rocky situation
they are in the habit of 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 another, the whole herd. Instead
of betaking themselves to fight, they
crowd closer and closer together, as their
companions fall around them: which has
been attributed to their mistaking the
report Of gun for thunder, as, notwith-
standing the shortness of their legs they
can run extremely fast. Should they,
however, discover their enemies by sight,
or by their sense of smell, which is ex-
tremely acute, the cows Immediately have
recourse to fight; while the bulls, being Of
a more irascible nature, attack the hunter,
whose life is placed in great jeopardy, un
less he possesses both activity and presence
of mind.
The musk OK inhabits the hilly, barren
grounds between the Welcome and Copper
mountains, from the SD or Gath par ..llel to
the Arctic sea, aud west towards Parrys
islands or as far as civilized man has
penetrated. How much farther they pro
ceed, 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 aanks
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 ofthe dorsal processes
which support the ponderous head. The
swelling bases of the horns spread over the
forehead Of both sexes-in the males COM
ing nearly in contact. The animal is
destitute Of tail.-Americam Sportsman.
The SWORD OF GENERAL WAYNE
When President Grant was in our city,
says the Wilmington Commercial, there
was shown him, at the residence Of Mr..