MOSCHUS MOSCHIFERUS. Linn.
The musk deer is found from Siberia through Central Asia to the Himalaya. In these moun tains it is found at great elevations, in summer rarely below 8000 feet, and as high as the limits of the forest. It is solitary, living in retired spots near rocks, or in the depths of the forest. It is easily traced by the heaps of dung on its runs, for it is partial to localities, and both in habits and general appearance has a great affinity to the hare. Adams sometimes found it by following up its trail through the copse across the grassy glade into a little dell, where the in different creature might have been seen feeding within a few yards. The mode of its progression is remarkable, and comprises a series of spasmodic leaps, while now and then it stops to reconnoitre, or, walking a few feet, resumes these fantastic movements. The musk is most sought after
during the rutting season in autumn. Adams repeatedly examined the contents of the glands at other seasons, but except a rank, offensive odour from the dark pigmentary substance con tained in them, he could not discover a trace of musk.
Moquin Tandon describes the glands as con sisting of two oval pyriform sacs of unequal size, which open into the preputial groove by two large orifices. Those of the adult male are from 3 to 5 inches in length ; those of the female are some what less developed. In the living animal the castoreum is an almost fluid substance of a strong, penetrating, and nearly fetid odour. When dried, the sacs have a dark-brown colour and wrinkled appearance. The market value of each bag is from £1 to .£1, 108.—Adains' Naturalist in India; Jerdan's Mammals.