THE MUSK ANIMAL. 43 



so justly to be prized, is a circumstance astonishing to an 

 inquiring mind ; but certain it is, that no one has de- 

 termined whether it be a hog, an ox, a goat, or a deer. 



The musk which comes to Europe is brought over 

 in small bags about the size of a pigeon's egg, which, 

 when opened, contain a reddish hard substance, some- 

 what like drops of coagulated blood, which formerly 

 were merely used as a perfume, but have latterly been 

 given in all nervous complaints. 



The musk animal (says Mr. Grew) is neither of the 

 goat nor deer kind ; it has no horns, and it has not been 

 discovered whether it ruminates or not; it wants the 

 fore teeth in the upper jaw, at the same time has tusks 

 like those of a hog : from the head to the tail it is three 

 feet six inches, the former of which is above half a 

 foot long, and resembles that of a greyhound in shape; 

 the ears are erect, like those of a rabbit; and on each 

 side the lower jaw, at the corners of the mouth, there 

 is a tuft of short thick hair : but that which distin- 

 guishes it in a particular manner, is the bag which 

 contains the valuable medicine for which the animal is 

 deservedly prized ; this bag is formed under the belly, 

 and generally is about two inches long : the hair is al- 

 ternately brown and white, and remarkably thick upon 

 the back ; the tail is not more than two inches, and the 

 hair upon it is perfectly white : the tusks are an inch 



and half in length, and turn back in the form of a hook ; 



. . t 

 its sense of hearing is remarkably acute ; and it is ex- 

 tremely fearful, timid, and shy. 



Notwithstanding Mr. Grew has given this detail, its 

 internal structure seems absolutely unknown ; for no 

 one has attempted to form an idea of the manner in 

 which the musk is composed. When we consider the 

 immense quantities of this substance that is merely 



