The Kastura, or Musk-Deer 



of the Chinese water-deer, this alone would not suffice to 

 differentiate the present animal from other members of 

 the family Cervid^e. As a matter of fact, the structural 

 features by which the musk-deer is separated from the 

 latter are chiefly connected with the skeleton and the 

 soft internal organs, and detailed reference to them 

 would be out of place on this occasion. It must 

 accordingly suffice to mention that such structural 

 differences do exist, among them being the presence of 

 a gall-bladder, which is never developed in true deer. 



As regards general appearance, the musk-deer might 

 be taken, if its long tusks be disregarded, for a female 

 antelope just as well as for a female deer ; but the 

 sabre -like upper tusks of the bucks are a feature 

 unparalleled among hollow-horned ruminants. In the 

 extremely large size of the lateral hoofs, which are 

 capable of being spread out so as to secure an additional 

 foothold, the musk-deer is peculiar. 



In build musk-deer are stout and heavy, if not 

 clumsy, the rump being raised above the level of the 

 fore-quarters, while the hind-limbs are longer than the 

 front ones, which, however, are also of considerable 

 length ; both pairs being thick. The coarse and thick 

 hair, which is minutely waved, is extremely brittle and 

 pith-like, and serves as a protection against the cold of 

 the animal's habitat. The ears are large ; and although 

 much smaller in females, the upper tusks attain great 

 development in bucks. From other Cervid.e musk- 

 deer differ by the absence of face -glands below the 

 eyes ; and the metatarsal and tarsal glands found in so 

 many deer are likewise wanting. The tail is reduced 

 to a mere glandular rudiment ; but whereas in the 

 bucks it terminates in a small tuft, in the does it is 

 covered uniformly with hair. A gland in the skin of 

 the abdomen of the bucks secretes, at least during the 

 pairing -season, the well-known powerful scent from 

 which the animal derives its name. 



In height the musk-deer stands some 22 inches at 



267 



