FOOD. 93 



have often shot them whilst feeding, and 

 found in the mouth or throat various kinds 

 of shrubs and grasses, and often the long- 

 white moss that hangs so luxuriantly from 

 the trees in the higher forests. Roots also 

 seem to form a portion of their food, as they 

 scratch holes in the ground, like many of the 

 hill pheasa.nts. The Puharries believe that 

 the males kill and eat snakes, and feed upon 

 the leaves of the " kedar patta," a small and 

 very fragrant smelling laurel, and that the 

 musk is produced by this food. They may 

 probably eat the leaf of this laurel, amongst 

 other shrubs, but from the few occasions 

 upon which I have seen this laurel stripped 

 of any portion of its leaves, it does not 

 appear to afford a very favourite repast. 

 Their killing snakes is doubtless quite 

 fabulous. 



The young are born either in June or 

 July, and almost every female brings forth 

 yearly, and often twins. These are always 

 deposited in separate places some distance 

 from each other, the dam herself keeping 



