DEER TRIBE. 83 



young, without great difficulty. They are pursued and 

 killed on account, chiefly, of the well-known drug called 

 musk t which is produced in a kind of bag, about the shape 

 and size of a small egg, situated on the under part of their 

 body. These bags are peculiar to the male, and each of 

 them yields about a dram and half of musk, which has the 

 appearance of a brown and fatty substance. The hunters 

 cut off the bags, and tie them up for sale. When a musk- 

 bag is first opened, the odour is said to be so powerful, 

 that every person present is obliged to cover his nose and 

 mouth with several folds of linen ; and, notwithstanding 

 all the care that can be taken, the blood will sometimes 

 gush out of the nose in consequence. So numerous are 

 these animals in their native climates, that Tavernier in- 

 forms us, that in one journey he collected more than 

 seven thousand bags. 



The length of the male is about three feet. These 

 animals have no horns. The head is beautifully shaped; 

 the upper jaw considerably longer than the lower, and 

 furnished on each side with a long and curved tusk. 

 The hair is soft, and varies in colour, according to 

 age and season : on the upper parts of the body it is 

 chiefly of a blackish brown colour, and on the under 

 parts hoary. In the young animals it is oftentimes 

 spotted. 



34. DEER TRIBE. 



The greater part of these animals are found in wooded 

 and mountainous districts ; and are natives both of hot 

 and cold climates. They shed their horns every year. 

 Their flesh is in great request as food, and has the gene- 

 ral name of venison. 



