Gilpin observer., 1912-04-04

lean bison. The coat of the muskox is dark um-
Der In color, and In places black but that
of the leg and Saddle" however, Is 30 much
lighter as to appear in contrast with the rest
of its fur almost buff. The hair of the name
and back is decidedly woolly. but the rest of its
coat falls in thick folds of hair, sometimes almost
completely obscuring its legs, and reaching to the
ground So heavy is this coat that the ears and
tail. and often the base of the horns are com.
pletely hidden by It, Beneath this hairlike coat
Is one of WOOL somewhat of a light chocolate
color The greater development of the fore quar-
tiers particularly in the bull Is so marked that
when one OF these fully grown beasts advances
towards the hunter. It may readily be mistaken
for two animals walking in close proximity The
muskox is quite short limbed massive and stubby
In build and in the spring the grotesqueness OF
Its appearance is more greatly enhanced by the
masses of wool that cling to the hair. and which
II Is at that time shedding.
One of the characteristic features OF this ami.
NAL is the development of its horns In the ma
tured animal these are Joined to the skull on top
and almost at the They are wide and
peculiarly rough at the base. the rough
ness gradually forming regular. uniform ridges
where the horns curve In towards the skull.
finally assuming an almost polished smoothness
as they taper to point and turn upward. II
line were drawn from the point of one horn to
that OF the other. II would be found to pass Just
before the eyes. The horns generally about
25 inches In length, but there many
where they have measured much as 27. Those
Of the bull are much more heavy and massive
than those OF the COW and almost Joined at
the base. The horns yellowish white in
color with the exception OF the tips which are
black The hoofs OF the muskox are quite small
when compared with those OF the caribou rela.
lively considering the weights OF the animals
. They are admirably adapted to assist the animal
in crossing icy surfaces, having considerable
growth of hair between the hoofs which undoubt.
edly has the same function that the under
part Of the paw of the polar bear
During the long Arctic winter the muskox
roams at large the snow-covered barren
wastes that 1t inhabits. frequenting those parts
where It can best obtain the few lchens and
scanty mosses that form its sustenance and
which It RECEIVERS by removing the great depth OF
snow with it's hoofs At this time OF the year. the
muskoxen assemble in herds. much that they
might hudde together for protection during the
great bzzards. and better to repe the attacks OF
the then almost starving Arctic wolves. prac-
tically their sole enemy. from which by this and
other tactics they able to ward on the attacks
OF wild beasts. AS the with the Amer
lean bison and the buffalo wolf. the young and
inexperienced the aged outcast and the diseased.
however, fall easy prey to the hungry lurkers,
The muskox runs swiftly. but maintain a
gallop for but a short time. when. turning about,
II faces its pursuer, forming into long line II
attacked from but point and into a circle II
from several with glaring eyes and paving
hoofs II awaits the approach OF the intruder. when
apparently having sufficiently recuperated from
the exertion, II again gallops or only to mako
another stand farther But ordinary man
can soon exhaust them by repeatedly putting
them to fight. However, the muskox does not
always ny at the approach OF man. and in mute
stupidity a whole herd will stand in line and
allow themselves to be shot down by a single
hunter. who will have difhcuty in securing