THE MUSK DEER. 



703 



Audubon were most mischievous creatures. They would jump into his study window, 

 and when the sashes were shut would leap through glass and woodwork like harlequin in a 

 pantomime. They ate the covers of his books, nibbled his papers, and scattered them 

 in sad confusion, gnawed the carriage-harness, cropped all the choice garden plants, 

 and finally took to biting off the heads and feet of the ducklings and chickens. 



The skin of the Carjacou is peculiarly valuable to the hunter, for when properly 

 dressed and smoked, it becomes as pliable as a kid glove, and does not shrivel or 

 harden when subjected to the action of water. Of this material are formed the greater 

 part of the native Indian's apparel, and it is also employed for various articles of 

 civilized raiment. 



As the Carjacou feeds, it always shakes its tail before it lowers or raises its head. 

 So by watching the movement of the tail, the hunter knows when he may move towards 

 his intended prey, and when he must lie perfectly quiet. So truly indicative of the 

 animal is this habit, that when an Indian wishes to signal to another that he sees a Car- 

 jacou, he moves his fore-finger up and down. This sign is invariably understood 

 by all the tribes of North American Indians. 



MUSK DEER.-Moschus Moschlferus. 



THE Moschine Deer are readily known by the absence of horns in both sexes, the 

 extremely long canine teeth of the upper jaw in the males, and the powerfully odorous 

 secretion in one of the species, from which they derive their popular as well as their 

 scientific title. There are at least eight or nine species of these curious animals. 



The most celebrated of these little Deer, is the common MUSK DEER, which is a 

 native of the northern parts of India, and is found spread throughout a very large 

 range of country, always preferring the cold and elevated mountainous regions. The 

 height of the adult Musk Deer is about two feet three inches at the shoulders ; the 

 color is light brown, marked with a shade of grayish-yellow. Inhabiting the rocky 

 and mountainous locations of its native home, it is remarkably active and surefooted, 

 rivalling even the chamois or the goat in the agility with which it can ascend or descend 

 the most fearful precipices. The great length of the false hoofs adds much to the 

 security of the Musk Deer's footing upon the crags. 



It is only in the male that the long tusks are seen, and that the perfume called musk is se- 

 creted. The tusks are sometimes as much as three inches in length, and therefore project 



