The Musk Ox is much smaller than the Common Ox, and has somewhat the
appearance of an enormous sheep. Its forehead is arched; its mouth
small; its muzzle completely covered with hair; and its horns, which are
very large, are closely united at the base, and bending downwards over
the sides of its head, suddenly turn backwards and upwards at the tips.
Its long and abundant coat is of a dark brown color. It exhales a strong
odor of musk.
This animal, which is a combination of the Ox, Sheep, and Goat, inhabits
North America below the polar circle, and lives in families of from ten
to twenty individuals.
Notwithstanding its apparent heaviness, the Musk Ox climbs over rocks
almost as nimbly as a Goat, and its speed across the rocky, rough,
barren grounds, (its principal habitat) for an animal so clumsy, is
truly astonishing.