HOE, MUSK AND SIKA. 



11 



From September to November is the best time for roedeer hunting. 

 The horns are then in good condition, and the hair is noti so liable 

 to drop as at other times. One can also enjoy the pleasure of hav-- 

 ing a nicely roasted haunch or grilled steak for dinner. Earlier in the 

 summer, though the horns are good, the smell of the deer sets one 

 against eating the flesh. The meat should always be allowed to hang 

 for a few days, which of course is impossible in the warm weather. 



The Muskdeer (Moschus sibiricus). 



MUSK. 

 In many places, chiefly in heavily forested and mountainous coun- 

 tr3% where the roe is found the musk deer is also prevalent. It is a 

 pretty little creature, considerably smaller than the roe, has no horns, 

 but is armed with long tusks, which grow do\^m, like those of the wal- 

 rus, from the upper jaw. These only occm- in the male, which is 

 also slightly larger than the female. The tusks attain a length of 

 about 3 inches. At least four species of musk have been identified. 

 Two of these occur in the Himalayas and Sze-chuan, so that they 

 scarcely come under our heading. These are Moschus moschiferus 

 and M. chrysogaster respectively. In Kansu and Eastern Thibet h 

 species called M. sifanicus occurs, while the Shansi and Chihli species 

 is known as M. sibiricus. The last is a very dark variety, having a 

 thick coat of a dark brown, with a fine cream-yellow irregular patch 

 on the throat. M. sifanicus is distinctly greyer in appearance the 

 brown hairs having a white ring towards the tip. 



