432 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Wilson (1913, vol. 2, pp. 169-171) gives the following account: 



This pretty little animal ... is still fairly common throughout the length 

 and breadth of the Chino-Thibetan borderland, but is everywhere sorely hunted 

 for its musk. . . . This Musk ... is by far the most important export 

 passing through the border towns of western Szechuan. Hosie . . . says that 

 some 60,000 pods of musk, worth from 20 to 50 rupees each, according to 

 size and quality, are annually sent through the district of Litang to Tachienlu, 

 where they are trimmed and prepared for the Chinese and foreign market. 

 An ordinary pod in its raw state weighs about an ounce, and with its fringe 

 of skin and hair is about an inch across. . . . 



Hosie . . . puts the annual exports of musk from Tachienlu at over 

 24,500 ounces, valued at Tls. 300,000. Watson . . . gives the export of musk 

 through Kuan Hsien as 16,000 ounces, valued at Tls. 216,000; from Sungpan 

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

 at Chungking between 40,000 and 50,000 ounces of musk pass annually. . . . 

 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 quantities are consumed in the wealthy cities west of Chungking. In 

 the last Decennial Report (pub. 1904) the Commissioner of Customs, Chung- 

 king, 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) .... It occurs solitary or in pairs, though in a small area several 

 may be found. . . . The natives trap, snare, and more rarely shoot 

 them. . . . 



The flesh is excellent eating .... We were informed that they [some 

 animals in an enclosure] bred in captivity. 



Sowerby writes (1923, p. 110) : "In Shansi, North China, where 

 the musk-deer is plentiful in the forested mountainous areas, the 

 hunters will not tolerate this method [of snares], resorting to driv- 

 ing and shooting; which . . . ensures that only the males with 

 musk-pods are taken. In view of the value of the musk-deer to 

 the country it would be a good thing if the Chinese Government 

 made it illegal to employ the snare in the hunting of this little 

 animal." 



According to the same author (1937, pp. 252-253), the present 

 subspecies "ranges from South-western Kansu southward into Yun- 

 nan and north-eastward along the Tsing Ling range in South 

 Shensi into Honan and West Shansi. ... In the Chinese-Tibetan 

 border regions the musk deer is hunted mainly with nooses set in 

 the animal's runways. As this method kills females, which have no 

 value, as well as males*, it is very wasteful. Formerly abundant, 

 the musk deer is rapidly approaching extinction. Nothing is done 

 to protect this extremely valuable animal." 



In Szechwan, according to Roosevelt and Roosevelt (1929, p. 266) , 

 "Musk deer . . . are plentiful in many localities. In their pursuit 



