THE MUSK-DEEK. 85 



worthless from its small size, the flesh alone 

 would hold out no inducement for the 

 villagers to hunt it, while larger game was 

 more easUy procurable, and its comparative 

 insignificance, would alike have protected it 

 from the pursuit of the European sportsman. 

 As the musk, however, renders it to the 

 Puharries the most valuable of all, no animal 

 is so universally sought after in every place 

 it is known to inhabit. Musk is in demand 

 in nearly every part of the civilised world, 

 yet little I believe, is known of the 

 nature and habits of the animal that pro- 

 duces it. 



The musk-deer is rather more than three 

 feet long, and stands nearly two high at the 

 shoulder ; but they vary considerably in size, 

 those found in thick shady woods being 

 invariably larger than those on rocky open 

 ground. The head is small, the ears long 

 and erect. The male has a tusk depending 

 from each ujjper jaw, which, in a full-grown 

 animal is about three inches long, the thick- 

 ness of a goose-quill ; sharp pointed, and 



