THE THIBETIAN MUSK. 117 



mois and some of the mountain goats, climbing 

 ana bounding among the precipices of the alpine 

 ridges of central Asia with astonishing activity, as- 

 semoiing m nerds, and often appearing in very con- 

 eideraoltf nupvbers. It is extremely shy and wary 

 easily suarmed, and difficult to be approached. It 

 is shot or speare<i, and sometimes killed by the 

 cross-bow, -with a string set in the path of the 

 animai. They inhabit the region between China 

 and Tartary, extending to the mountains above the 

 sources of the Indus, and northward to near the Lake 

 Baikal. At times they appear to migrate from 

 one district to another, assembling previously in large 

 herds. Some zoologists, however, have considered 

 this assemblage not connected with migration, but 

 consisting entirely of males in search of the female. 

 During winter, they are said to be able to subsist 

 on a scanty fare of lichens, but during summer, a fa- 

 vourite food is the leaves of the Rhododendron 

 Dauricum. 



The musk is contained in a bag situated on the 

 belly of the male, and appears to have some con- 

 nection with the season of love, for at this or during 

 the rutting period it is secreted in the greatest pro- 

 fusion, and of the strongest scent : it is chiefly for 

 this they are hunted, and, when killed, the bag is cut 

 off, fastened at the opening, and dried, when it is 

 ready for sale. Several thousand bags are thus pro- 

 cured in a season ; but even with this number the 

 iubstance is often adulterated before being brought 



