The National tribune., 1893-02-23
and is based upon his predominating character

and is based upon his predominating character
istics of form and habit.
The range of the animal is practically con-
fined to the northeasterly portions of the
American Continent within the Arctic Circle,
although in former times he was found consid-
erably to the south of these limits in British
America He is rarely. if ever. now found
west of the Mckenzie River. Lieut.. Greedy 3
party some years ago found the animal very
plentiful on the west shore of Baffins Bay.
Lieut.. Peary's party found the animal IN
northeastern Greenland regions reached on
the ice from the American consinent. 1t is
not found in southern Greenland.
The color of the animal is of a bright dark.
brown The hight Of full grown musk-ox is
about four and one half feet at the shoulder. Its
most striking peculiarities are the horns ana
hair The former start from the middle OF the
forehead. close together being barely divided
by q narrow line, the base of the horns being
very much fattened and covering practically
the forehead, from which point they spread
laterally, dropping down the side of the face to
a line with the eye. At this point they take
sharp turn upward and outward. Both sexes
have horns, but they are smaller in the female
than in the male
The hair is parted down the back, hanging
over the sides in long, straight fringe reach
ing to the knee. The longest hairs grow to a
length of about 20 inches. The tail is small,
cealed by the hair of the body.
The feet are cloven and widespread. very
much like the hoof of the caribou. They are
remarkable for the concavity OF the sole giving
the animal the double advantage of being able
to move at great speed over icy cliffs and dig
its food from under deep snow. 1t is said that
it requires an experienced eye to distinguish It's
track from that of the caribou.
It's eye is full and of brown color, re-
sembling that of the bovine family. 1t will be
noticed from the illustration that it has we'll
developed hump Mt the shoulder like that on
the American buffalo. but not SO distinctive as
ia the case OF the Zebu or Indian cattle. This
is strongly marked in the skeleton, which
shows the elongated process of the spinal col
umn at this portion Of the frame. Considering
the shOrtness OF its limbs, it moves with great
speed when alarmed, and, like the Rocky
Mountain sheep. travels freely over the most
inaccessible places Its flesh when fat may be
1ikened in favor to that of the caribou, aud Is
favorite article OF food among the natives of
the far-Horthern regions where it lives.
1t has a strongly Unmarked musky odoT, which
is present in both sexes. Unlike other musk
producing animals the odor does not seem to
be due to secretion in any particular portion
of the body, but is equally distributed through
out the system. 1t is most apparent in the
an mal when in lean condition, at which time
it gives q strong and offensive taste to the
flesh.
Its food consists of grasses in the Summer
and lichens in the Winter. Musk oxen are
usually found in herds of from 10 to 80. led by
the father of the colony, as in the case OF wild
horses. There are very few stuffed specimens
of the animal to be seen in this country. ewing,
of course to the di fiiculties attendant upon the
chase Of the animal in the inhos pitable regions
where he is to be found. There are three in
the National Museum in Washington. and one
in the Museum of Harvard University, at Cam
bridge, Mass.
Lieut.. Peary's party took several specimens
during their travels in the interior of Green
land the skins of which were brought home
and have been exhibited by the commander of
that expedition in his recent lectures in New
York City and other places.