THE MUSK-DEER. 75 



far away in the depths of the valley below, and the wild 

 whistling of moonals among the crags. 



However, after waiting there for nearly two hours, we 

 l)egan to grow anxious lest some mishap might have befallen 

 the shikaree. Mist, too, had been gradually gathering around 

 tlie mountain-tops, the sky became rapidly overcast with 

 dark driving clouds of a leaden hue, and the keen cold wind 

 tliat accompanied them seemed to indicate an approaching 

 snowstorm. At last, to our relief, the shikaree reappeared, 

 and over his back was slung the musk-deer. Its skin was 

 much torn and its bones were all broken from having been 

 dashed from rock to rock in its falL 



The musk-deer (Mosclms moschiferus of natural history), 

 or kustoora, as it is here called, is a very delicately formed 

 little creature, both in body and limb. It stands, at most, 

 two feet at the shoulder, which is slightly lower than the 

 croup. Its hind legs are very long, and are thus well 

 adapted for the agile bounds it is so capable of making 

 amongst the rocks, and have the appearance of being bent 

 under its body, as though always ready for a spring. The 

 ears are roundish, erect, and set closely together. In colour 

 it is a dark-greyish brown, which deepens on the quarters, and 

 is slightly mottled on the sides with spots of a pale brown. 

 Its 2^el(tffe is thick, springy, and brittle, each hair having a 

 crimped appearance about half-way along from its root. 

 The hoofs are small and pointed, and the upper or false 

 hoofs peculiarly long. The habit of this little animal of 

 returning to the same spot to deposit its droppings, is curi- 

 ous ; they are frequently met with in heaps, which must 

 have taken months to accumulate. Some of these heaps are 

 highly scented with musk, while others are quite inodorous, 

 which leads one to suppose that each heap has been made 

 by the same individual. This deer carries no horns ; but 

 the upper jaw of the male is provided with a pair of canine 

 teeth, which grow to a length of quite two inches, if not 

 more. As the buck only has tliese teeth, it is hard to say 



