170 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



Hosie {ibid. p. 8i) puts the annual exports of musk from 

 Tachienlu at over 24,500 ounces, valued at Tls. 300,000. Watson 

 {ibid. p. 38) gives the export of musk through Kuan Hsien as 

 16,000 ounces, valued at Tls. 216,000 ; from Sungpan (p. 41) to 

 the value of Tls. 60,000. Through the Imperial Maritime 

 Customs at Chungking between40,oooand5o,oooouncesof musk 

 pass annually. For the ten years ending 1901, some 483,174 

 ounces of musk were exported through the Imperial Maritime 

 Customs at Chungking. But these figures represent only a 

 part of the export, since they do not cover what passed through 

 the Native Customs. In addition to this export large quanti- 

 ties are consumed in the wealthy cities west of Chungking. 

 In the last Decennial Report (pub. 1904) the Commissioner 

 of Customs, Chungking, writes : " The destruction of these 

 animals must be enormous and must lead to their extinction 

 if the present slaughter continues." The figures given above 

 amply justify the commissioner's views. 



This much-persecuted little animal frequents the upper 

 wooded country between 8000 feet altitude and the tree-limit 

 (11,500 to 14,000 feet, according to climate), where forests 

 composed of Spruce, Silver Fir, and Larch, with a thin under- 

 growth and plenty of rocks, obtain. It occurs solitary or in 

 pairs, though in a small area several may be found. It is a 

 very agile little beast, and a favourite retiring-place during the 

 daytime is the upper part of some half-faUen, sloping tree- 

 trunk. Such trees it ascends with ease, and hunters closely 

 examine every one of these trees for the marks made by the 

 sharp hoofs of this animal. It lies close to the trunk and is not 

 readily detected. Among rocks in the forests is another 

 favourite haunt, A 12-bore with S.S.G. or A.A. shot is the 

 best weapon for hunting these animals. The natives trap, 

 snare, and more rarely shoot them. A male shot west of 

 Tachienlu by Mr. Zappey measured : total length, 34 inches ; 

 height at shoulder, 2if inches ; tail, i| inches. Legs, grey ; 

 body, dark brown (back, reddish-brown), speckled with greyish 

 and tawny yellow : head, grey ; front of neck, light grey ; belly, 

 yellowish-brown ; ears, dark grey, except outside edge, which 

 is light brownish-yellow ; upper canine teeth sabre-like, i^ 

 inches long. 



