MUSK.] 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



211 



of its flesh and its dung is named Musk, but that is far 

 better which runs from the imposthume. Musk which 

 has lost its smell recovers its virtue in stinks and latrines ; 

 it strives against stench, and thus revives as it were by 

 Striving. Hortus Sanitatis, bk. ii. 100. 



THE Musk-cat is neither like a cat nor a mouse. They 

 make perfume of it ; with this the luxurious women per- 

 fume themselves, to entrap the love of their wooers. The 

 true Musk is sold for 403. an ounce at the least. A 

 Musk-cat is an excellent remedy for those which are 

 troubled with fear in their heart. 



Topsell, " History of Four-footed Beasts," pp. 427-31 (1658). 



1 





[!N the Kingdom of Erginul] is found a beast, as big 

 as a goat, of exquisite shape, which every full moon hath 

 an aposthumation or swelling under the belly, which 

 proveth the best Musk in the world. 



Purckas "Pilgrims," p. 428 (ed. 1616). 



MUSK is made of the stomach of a beast somewhat 

 greater than a cat. Our greatest sweet we see is but 

 rottenness and putrefaction. Ibid.> p. 502. 



V. Civet. 



