The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1912-05-16

lean bison. The coat OF the muskox is dark UNI
Der in color, and In places even black, but that
of the leg and saddle" however, is so much
lighter as to appear in contrast with the rest
of its fur as 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 II. 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, 1t 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 cliRg to the hair. and which
IT 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 rear. They are wide and
peculiarly rough at the base, the uneven 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 a point and turn upward. II a
line we're drawn from the point Of one horn to
that Of the other. II would be found to pass Just
before the eyes. The horns are generally about
25 inches In length, but there are many cases
where they have measured as much as 81. Those
Of the bull are much more heavy and massive
than those OF the COW and are almost Joined at
the base. The horns are a 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 a considerable
growth of hair between the hoofs which undoubt.
eddy has the same function as that on the under
mart If the INV Of tho nOlar ham
During the long Arctic winter the muskox
roams at large over the snow-covered barren
wastes that It inhabits, frequenting those parts
where II can best obtain the few lichens and
scanty moses that form its sustenance and
which II RECEIVERS by removing the great depth OF
snow with its hoofs. At this time of the year, the
muskoxen assemble in herds. much that they
might huddle together for protection during the
great billiards., and better to repel the attacks OF
the then almost starving Arctic wolves. prac-
tically their sole enemy, from which by this and
other tactics they are able to ward of the attacks
Of wild beasts. AS was the case with the Amer
lean bison and the buffalo wolf, the young and
inexperienced, the aged outcast and the diseased.
however, fall an easy prey to the hungry lurkers.
The muskox runs swiftly. but can maintain a
gallop for but a short time. when. turning about.
II faces it's pursuer, forming into a long line II
attacked from but one point. and into a circle II
fresh several. With glazing eyes and paving
hoofs Il awaits the approach Of the intruder, when
apparently having sufficiently recuperated from
the e~xertion, II again gallops OF. only to make
another stand farther on. But an ordinary man
can soon exhaust them by repeatedly putting
them to flight. However. the muskox does not
always AZ 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 viii have no difficulty in securing