386 ON THE 



description was placed; but which, lately, has 

 fallen a sacrifice to the lower temperature of our 

 climate. 



The Musk, is an inhabitant of the higher moun- 

 tains of Thibet, and of the barren and snowy 

 Regions of Central Asia. It resembles in size 

 and general appearance, the Koebuck; but it dif- 

 fers from it, as well as from all the ruminating 

 animals, excepting the Camel tribes, in having 

 no horns ; and from the Camel also, in being fur- 

 nished with long, sharp, crooked tusks one on each 

 side, pointing directly downwards and projecting 

 nearly two inches beyond the lip, which are used 

 for hooking up roots, and as, an instrument of 

 defence; and in possessing in the middle part of 

 the abdomen, a sac about the size of an egg, that 

 supplies the musk of the shops, which, when 

 fresh from the sac, is stated to be so excessively 

 penetrating, as to force blood from the nose, eyes, 

 and ears, of those who incautiously smell it. 



This well known remedy and perfume, when 

 taken from the musk, is deposited in small 

 bladders, and sent to Europe ; where, from the 

 difficulty of obtaining the animal, it was at first 

 sold for the exorbitant price of a guinea an ounce; 

 but of late years, in consequence of musk being 

 much less used than formerly, it is fallen very 

 considerably in value. 



The Pygmy Musk, is a very elegant little 

 quadruped, about the size of a small cat, and is 



