Oxen 5 6
of bone surmounting the crest of that surface is, as already said, visible.
The whole occipital aspect of the skull takes the form of an inverted V.
the summit of which is formed by the aforesaid bosjgg The presence of
fourteen pairs of ribs is an essentially bisontine character ; and it seems
highly probable that the mass o f long hair on the flanks, as well as the
uniform coloration, are also indicative of affinity with that group. The
premaxillary bones of. the skull differ from those of the taurine group and
resemble the bibovine group and the bisons in not extending upwards to
join the nasals but the interval between these two bones is, as-in the gaur,
considerably shorter than in the bisons.
On the whole, it seems preferable to regard the yak III an aberrant
member of the bisontine group, rather than the representative of a group
by itself. This view is supported by the occurrence of the undermentioned
extinct species, which on distributional grounds appears to
connect the yak with.the living bisons.
Distribution.— The plateau of Tibet, extending eastwards as |§r as the
province of Kansu in China, and northwards probably as far S the Kuen
Lun. The south-western range embraces the north-eastern portions of Ladak
in the neighbourhood of the Changchenmo valley and the Pangkong lake.
In summer yak are found at elevations from about 14,000 or. 15,000 £c^
20,000 feet above the sea-level.
Habits.— In Ladak the regions inhabited by the wild yak are of the
most dreary and desolate description, where the pasturage even in summer
consists only of patches of a coarse, wiry grass apparently ill-fitted for the
nutriment of herds of such large animals:. Nevertheless, both yak and
argali thrive upon it ; and although in Ladak itself yak are now comparatively
few, in Chinese territory they exist in great numbers, and are
found in herds numbering from ten to a hundred head or more. TheHld
bulls are, however, for the most part solitary, or go- about in small bands of
three or four.
Yak 5 7
As a compensation for its arid and desolate nature, the rock-scenery of
parts of the yak-country in Ladak is probably unsurpassed in the world for
brilliancy of coloration. When to this is added the presence of a large sheet
of water like the Pangkong lake, the whole effect is magnificent. Taking
his stand at the north-western extremity of the lake at Lukung, the
traveller has for foreground a smooth beach o f dazzling white sand, beyond
which lies the broad expanse of the clear blue water of the mighty lake ;
Fig. 10.—Champàs with Yaks. From Darrah’s Sport in the Highlands o f Kashmir.
while, on either side, there rise rugged cliffs of brilliantly coloured slaty
rocks. The contrast of the white beach, blue water, and many-coloured
bare rocks, shimmering in the dazzling light o f the midday sun, has left
on my memory an impression never to be forgotten.
Yak are in the habit o f wandering for considerable distances ; and during
the daytime are accustomed to repose on some steep and barren hillside,
whence they can obtain a good view of the country. Their feeding-times,
in Ladak at any rate, are chiefly the early mornings and evenings. Water
1