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174 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN
climb over rocks and rough surfaces with great ease." He
further adds that " they are very irascible when wounded,
and will sometimes attack a hunter and seriously endanger
his life." Doctor Armstrong has also recorded an interesting
experience i n Prince of Wales Strait i n which the dam
and sire of a small herd brought to bay bravely stood i n front
protecting the others i n the rear, an action which surely
afforded strong proof of their affectionate instinct. On this
occasion three males, the mother, and a young female calf
were all shot. Sir Leopold McClintock, who had been engaged
i n several Eranklin Search expeditions, writes:
The white cow ( the albino observed on Melville Island) was
accompanied by a black cali. The musk ox clambers up the steepest
rocks like a goat, and, when running, his long black hair heaves
up and down, streaming in the breeze, and gives him a peculiarly
savage appearance. It is so long that be occasionally treads thereon,
and one finds hairs almost two feet in length stamped into the snow.
There is an undergrowth of very thick wool, so soft and silky that
the warmest gloves have been made of it. The musk ox is not
absolutely deficient of a tail, but it never exceeds 1%. inches in
length. They do not seem to cross from one island to another, as
the reindeer do, but usually roam about in small herds. Unaccustomed
to man, they seldom deigned to notice us until we came
tolerably near; then they would generally close together in an
attitude of defense. While facing you their massive horns so
effectually shield every vital part that it is useless to fire, and
therefore a single sportsman must wait until their patience Is
exhausted and they alter their position; but it is desirable to get
behind a block of glassy ice, a rock, or some rough ground, where
they cannot charge straight at you, which we have known them
to do before as well as after being fired at. I once came across a
solitary old bull which instantly faced me, spent a few seconds
rubbing his horns against his fore legs ( a sure sign that mischief
is brewing), and rushed on me at full speed; but I had taken the
precaution so to approach him that I was able to shoot him when
he halted on the brink of the ravine down which I had retreated.
McClintock further says that three or four sportsmen
may station themselves about a herd at a distance of 70 or
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| Title | Page 197 |
| OCR | 174 T H R O U G H T H E M A C K E N Z I E B A S IN climb over rocks and rough surfaces with great ease." He further adds that " they are very irascible when wounded, and will sometimes attack a hunter and seriously endanger his life." Doctor Armstrong has also recorded an interesting experience i n Prince of Wales Strait i n which the dam and sire of a small herd brought to bay bravely stood i n front protecting the others i n the rear, an action which surely afforded strong proof of their affectionate instinct. On this occasion three males, the mother, and a young female calf were all shot. Sir Leopold McClintock, who had been engaged i n several Eranklin Search expeditions, writes: The white cow ( the albino observed on Melville Island) was accompanied by a black cali. The musk ox clambers up the steepest rocks like a goat, and, when running, his long black hair heaves up and down, streaming in the breeze, and gives him a peculiarly savage appearance. It is so long that be occasionally treads thereon, and one finds hairs almost two feet in length stamped into the snow. There is an undergrowth of very thick wool, so soft and silky that the warmest gloves have been made of it. The musk ox is not absolutely deficient of a tail, but it never exceeds 1%. inches in length. They do not seem to cross from one island to another, as the reindeer do, but usually roam about in small herds. Unaccustomed to man, they seldom deigned to notice us until we came tolerably near; then they would generally close together in an attitude of defense. While facing you their massive horns so effectually shield every vital part that it is useless to fire, and therefore a single sportsman must wait until their patience Is exhausted and they alter their position; but it is desirable to get behind a block of glassy ice, a rock, or some rough ground, where they cannot charge straight at you, which we have known them to do before as well as after being fired at. I once came across a solitary old bull which instantly faced me, spent a few seconds rubbing his horns against his fore legs ( a sure sign that mischief is brewing), and rushed on me at full speed; but I had taken the precaution so to approach him that I was able to shoot him when he halted on the brink of the ravine down which I had retreated. McClintock further says that three or four sportsmen may station themselves about a herd at a distance of 70 or |
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