195 RUMINANTIA. 



SECTION XXV. 



MOSCHIDAE, or MUSK DEER. (Gr. /woo^o?, moschos, a Musk.) 



These are so called, from the fact, that one species yields the 

 well-known perfume, called musk. According to Cuvier, "they 

 are much less anomalous than the Camels, and only differ from the 

 other Ruminants in the absence of horns, in having a long canine 

 tooth on each side of the upper jaw, which comes out of the 

 mouth in the males, and, finally, in having in their skeleton, a 

 slight fibula, (clasp, or connecting link,) which has no existence 

 in the Camels." 



The distinction of the othe.r canine tooth noticed by Cuvier, is 

 not, however, confined to the Musks, as some of the males of 

 other deer, the Muntjak, for example, show a similar forma- 

 tion ; that of the Moschus moschiferus, (Lat. musk-bearing,) is 

 three inches long. In general form, the Musk deer differ only 

 a little from other Deer ; but the body is rounded and stouter, 

 and the neck shorter, the head is not carried erect, and the 

 bearing not so bold ; the limbs are more tapering, and the hind 

 quarters considerably elevated ; the face is narrow and length- 

 ened, and they are destitute of horns. None of them have tear 

 openings, or tufts of bushy hair on their legs, like the other deer. 

 They have large, dark and brilliant eyes, rather small ears, and 

 short tails; they have also front and hind hoofs, the front hoofs 

 being long, narrow and pointed, the hind ones high set, small and 

 conical. In the true musks, however, the hoofs are broad and 

 expanded; the hind ones large, almost touching ihe ground. 

 Besides the true and celebrated Musk Deer, the family includes 

 four other species, one found in Ceylon, and three in Java, in- 

 cluding the smallest, and according to some, the most elegant of 

 the Ruminants. 



Moschus moschiferus. The THIBET MUSK. (Plate VII. fig. 1.) 



This is a mountain animal, timid, shy, and a lover of soli- 

 tude, having somewhat the form of a roebuck, but thicker and 

 more clumsy. It is six inches higher behind than at the shoulder, 

 where it measures about two feet three inches. The ears are 

 long, and rather narrow; in the inside, pale yellow, and dark 

 brown, outside. The hair is long, coarse and harsh, and mixed 

 with brown yellow, and whitish, which produces a dark red 

 tinge on the back, fading off to whitish beneath, the tail is nearly 

 rudimentary, and covered by the hair ; a tuft hangs on each side 

 from the lower jaw. This animal being extremely cautious, and 



