HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 117 



with pines; where it avoids mankind, and when 

 pursued, flies to the highest and most inaccessible 

 summits. 



The perfume produced by this animal, which is 

 so well known in the fashionable circles, and of 

 late so much used in the practice of physic, needs 

 little description. It is found in a bag or tumour, 

 nearly of the si/e of a Hen's egg, on the belly of 

 the male only. These bags the hunters cut off, and 

 tie them up for sale ; many thousands of them are 

 sent over annually to Europe, besides what are 

 consumed in different parts of the Kast. To ac- 

 count for this great consumption, it is supposed 

 that the musk is frequently adulterated and mixed 

 with the blood of the animal. It comes to us from 

 China, Tonquin, Bengal, and Muscovy; but that of 

 Thibet is reckoned the best, and sells at a much 

 higher price than the rest. 



The flesh of the males, especially in the rutting 

 season, is much infected with the flavour of the 

 musk; but is, nevertheless, eaten by the Russians 

 and Tartars. 



