298 HISTORY OF 



from the root to the point; on the head and 

 thighs it is brown, but under the belly and tail 

 white, and a little curled, especially on the back 

 and belly. On each side of the lower jaw, under 

 the corners of the mouth, there is a tuft of thick 

 hair, which is short and hard, and about three 

 quarters of an inch long. The hair in general of 

 this animal is remarkable for its softness and fine 

 texture : but what distinguishes it particularly 

 are the tusks, which are an inch and a half long, 

 and turn back in the form of a hook ; and more 

 particularly the bag which contains the musk, 

 which is three inches long, two broad, and stands 

 out from the belly an inch and a half. It is a 

 very fearful animal, and therefore it has long 

 ears ; and the sense of hearing is so quick, that it 

 can discover an enemy at a great distance." 



[The Pigmy Musk is a native of many parts 

 of the East Indies and the Indian islands, and is, 

 according to Pennant, so common in Java, that 

 the natives catch great numbers in snares, and 

 carry them to the markets in cages for sale. This 

 elegant little quadruped has been often confound- 

 ed with some other species, as well as with the 

 pigmy antelope, an animal equally beautiful and 

 diminutive. It is considerably smaller than a do- 

 mestic cat, measuring only about nine inches from 

 the nose to the tail. It is of a bright bay colour, 

 white beneath, and on the inside of the thighs. 

 Its shape is very beautiful, and the legs are so 

 slender as scarcely to exceed the thickness of a 

 swan's quill : the head is rather large, as are the 

 ears and eyes, and its general aspect pleasing and 



