these animals, dead and alive. In its stature it does not attain the size of an ordinary English ox; and in its form it so nearly resembles a sheep, that were it not for the horns, which are short, and of a very particular conformation, which I need not here describe, it might naturally be taken for a sheep in preference to any other known clafs of animals. The body is every where covered with a thick and deep coat of hair, the roots of which are imbedded in a close fur or wool, remarkably fine, and soft and silky. The hair is so long as nearly to trail upon the ground as the creature walks. The wool of this animal is so soft and fine, that Mr. Graham, my informant, caused some of it to be spun and wrought into gloves and stockings, which were warm and soft as fur, and lustrous like silk. They were so much coveted, that they had been all given away as presents before I had the pleasure of his acquaintance. A French gentleman, whose name I have now forgotten, presented to the Royal Academy at Paris, several years ago, some stockings and gloves that were made of the same material, which in softnefs, fineness, and lustre, were said to rival silk; so that there seems to be no room to doubt that it is of a very fine quality; and I was informed that the quantity is very considerable. The tail is covered with a particular kind of hair, of which the Esquimaux make great use in their manufactures, some of which are worked with a most amazing degree of delicacy. As to the other peculiarities of this creature, they are very little known. It is gregarious and active, going in great flocks together for a vast extent along those northern regions; and its flesh forms a principal article of subsistence to the inha

the above account in some measure accords, so as torender this extremely probable, or if they are distinct from each other, my information does not at present authorise me to decide. But there can be no doubt that this is a breed of cattle (if it can be strictly admitted into that class) that is extremely different from any in Europe. It is a domestic animal at least, possefsing many valuable qualities, and which it behoves us much to have its comparative merits fairly ascertained. It were greatly to be wished then that a breed of this cattle could be transmitted to England for that purpose. The state of my own finances cannot admit of me attempting to obtain the live animal myself; but I will take it as a singular favour, if some of my readers in India will favour me with correct elucidations on this head: and, if they can. find it convenient, to accompany these with correct drawings of these or any other useful objects, it will be deemed a most acceptable present; for it appears to me that the drawing of the Yak which accompanies the above account must be incorrect (especially about the head), for which reason I have declined to copy it at present. It is so difficult to preserve dried skins with the hair <on in such a long voyage, that I cannot presume to solicit that such should be sent. I may beg leave to add, that any packet for this miscellany will be properly forwarded if addrefsed to the care of Messrs. Colvins and Bazett, Calcutta; or Dr. Anderson, Madras.

Of the musk ox of Hudson's Bay I can speak with greater certainty, as I have often conversed with a gentleman who had lived twenty years in that coun

these animals, dead and alive. In its stature it does not attain the size of an ordinary English ox; and in its form it so nearly resembles a sheep, that were it not for the horns, which are short, and of a very particular conformation, which I need not here describe, it might naturally be taken for a sheep in preference to any other known clafs of animals. The body is every where covered with a thick and deep coat of hair, the roots of which are imbedded in a close fur or wool, remarkably fine, and soft and silky. The hair is so long as nearly to trail upon the ground as the creature walks. The wool of this animal is so soft and fine, that Mr. Graham, my informant, caused some of it to be spun and wrought into gloves and stockings, which were warm and soft as fur, and lustrous like silk. They were so much coveted, that they had been all given away as presents before I had the pleasure of his acquaintance. A French gentleman, whose name I have now forgotten, presented to the Royal Academy at Paris, several years ago, some stockings and gloves that were made of the same material, which in softness, fineness, and lustre, were said to rival silk; so that there seems to be no room to doubt that it is of a very fine quality; and I was informed that the quantity is very considerable. The tail is covered with a particular kind of hair, of which the Esquimaux make great use in their manufactures, some of which are worked with a most amazing degree of delicacy. As to the other peculiarities of this creature, they are very little known. It is gregarious and active, going in great flocks together for a vast extent along those northern regions; and its flesh forms a principal article of subsistence to the inha

bitants of Hudson's Bay, both natives and Europeans. If they be killed during the rutting season, the flesh is strongly tainted with a musky flavour, from whence it has obtained its name: This taint is not perceptible if it be killed at any other time, provided the heart be taken out immediately; but if that member be left long in the body after death, it then also becomes tainted; otherwise the flesh is very pleasant. No attempt has hitherto been made to domesticate this creature, but there seems little reason to doubt, that were the calves caught when very young, or cut out of the cows that were shot while very near the calving time, and carefully put to a domestic cow, they might be easily tamed under a cautious mode of management.

The bases of the bull's horns spread over the upper part of the head, and cover it with a flat horny substance of considerable breadth, which, when separated from the head, is hollow on the inside, and of a form approaching to a square. This, when separated from the horn, forms a very convenient dish, that is universally employed by the native Esquimaux for many domestic purposes. Unless it be in regard to this particular, and the nature of its dung, which drops from the animal in the form of little hardish balls resembling that of sheep, it is said to differ in no respect from other animals of the bos tribe. From these facts then it appears very obvious, that there are several breeds of cattle which afford very abundant fleeces of wool or hair that might be applied to many useful purposes of life, in which we have hitherto been accustomed to employ the fleeces of sheep only; and, as

of cattle would make a very great addition to the profit of rearing these kinds of cattle, if the carcase should be found to be of equal value with that of the smoothhaired cattle that we have been in the use of rearing in Europe, it becomes a matter of great national consequence to have the other qualities of these breeds of cattle ascertained with the most accurate precision. For this purpose, it is much to be wished that some effectual means might be taken to obtain a pure breed of each of these kinds of cattle in this country; and when they are arrived, to put them into such a situation as that their comparative merits respectively in regard to quickness of fattening, delicacy of flavour, hardiness, and all other qualities, should be fairly ascertained by a set of judicious and well-devised experiments, conducted with the most faithful accuracy and precision. Until that shall be done, we are clearly guilty of a very culpable degree of negligence, for which no proper apology can ever be made. [To be continued.]

The Musk Cow and Bull of Hudson's Bay.

VOL. III.

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