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MUSK OX.

THIS animal, though of considerable size, is considered by naturalists to form a connecting link between the ox and the sheep; "the horns and part of the form connecting it with the one, and the woolly hair allying it to the other. They belong to the treeless and barren lands of America, from the sixtieth degree of north latitude to Melville Island. Their size is nearly that of a small Highland bullock, rather shorter in the legs; the head is large, and the horns, very broad, bending backward, and almost joined at the root, cover the brow and crown of the head; the upper lip and part of the lower is covered with short white hair; on the remainder of the head, and on the neck and between the shoulders, the hair is long and somewhat curled, of a brown colour; on the back and hips it is smooth, and on the shoulders, sides, and thighs, it is so long as to hang down to the middle of the legs; the hair on the throat and chest is very straight, and, together with the hair of the lower jaw, hangs down like a beard or dewlap; the tail is so short as to be concealed by the fur of the hips. The cow is less in size, and has shorter hair on the chest and throat. Their smell is exquisite, and warns them of danger before it can otherwise be perceived. Its temper is rather placid."

Dr. Richardson states that "notwithstanding the shortness of its legs, the musk ox runs fast, and climbs hills and rocks with great ease. One which we pursued on the banks of the Coppermine, scaled a lofty sand-cliff having so great a declivity that we were obliged to crawl on

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our hands and knees to follow it." Although, however quietly disposed if not molested, the musk ox is a very formidable opponent if assailed: thus Captain Franklin says that "the musk oxen associate in herds, and generally frequent barren grounds and rocky places; during the summer months keeping near the rivers, but retire to the woods in winter. They seem They seem to be less watchful than most other wild animals, and, when grazing, are not difficult to approach, if the hunters go against the wind. When two or three men get so near a herd as to fire at them from different points, these animals, instead of separating or running away, huddle close together, and several are generally killed; but if their wounds are not mortal they become enraged, and dart in the most furious manner at the hunters, who must be very dexterous to evade them. They can defend themselves by their powerful horns against wolves and bears, which, as the Indians say, they not unfrequently kill."

"The food of the musk ox appears to be the same as that of the reindeer; browsing, during the chief portion of the year, upon the lichens which cover the rocks; but in summer feeding upon the twigs of willow, birch, pine-shoots, coarse grass, and other herbage.

When fat, the flesh, especially of the bulls, is well flavoured, and resembles that of the reindeer, but has a coarser grain. Both sexes, when lean, smell strongly of musk, their flesh at the same time being dark and tough, and far inferior to that of any other North American ruminant."

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BLACKBIRD.

THIS well-known bird is a very common species in this country, and is highly esteemed on account of its song, which, however, is by no means equal to that of the thrush. Its outward appearance is indeed singularly plain and unpretending, but we may hence learn that good qualities are to be much more highly valued than a showy exterior.

The length of the blackbird is about ten inches; the entire plumage of the male is a shining black, the eyelids being bright orange-colour, and the bill of a like colour; the legs and toes brown, and the claws dusky. The hen bird has very little resemblance in colour to the male. The feathers of all the upper part are of a dusky olive brown, palest on the forehead and the sides of the neck, and darkest over the tail. The outer webs of the quill and tail feathers are edged with ash-coloured brown, with lighter streaks along the shafts. The chin is greyish white, shaded into brown rust-colour on the upper part of the breast, the lower part being dark ash-colour. The bill is dark brown, the edges being yellowish brown, and the eyelids yellow.

This species is common also throughout the greater part of Europe and Asia; as far to the north as Norway, and towards the south as Syria. The food of the blackbird varies according to the season of the year. In spring and summer they eat both insects and fruits, and in the autumn and winter they chiefly subsist on berries, together with such insects or their larvæ as, in fewer numbers, they may then be able to obtain.

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