60 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



like them, destitute of horns, and preceding the Stags, 

 whose horns are deciduous. They are externally distin- 

 guished from all other known ruminants, by this deficiency 

 of horns, but they have, in common with the Stag, two 

 pointed and edged incisors or canines in the upper jaw of 

 the males, which extend in some species outside of the 

 mouth. Internally, they have a peroneum, which is want- 

 ing in other ruminants. The eyes have no distinctive 

 character, are destitute of a lachrymary sinus, and the nos- 

 trils are divided by a small muzzle, as in the Stag ; the 

 ears are either short or pointed, the tail short, and the 

 females have two or four teats. 



Their fore-quarters are lower than the hind, and with 

 some exception in the Tibetan Musk, their attitude is low 

 and crouching, bearing the body, which is heavy and clumsy 

 in proportion to the delicacy of the legs, low, and the head 

 straight forward. It is probable, that in manners, they 

 resemble the small forest Antelopes, being, like them, shy 

 and solitary, inhabiting rocky woods. In a domestic state, 

 the individuals which have come under our notice, were 

 lively, ran about with agility, shewed little instinct or at- 

 tachment, but were gentle, and uttered occasionally a weak 

 sort of guttural grunt, without apparent motive. They 

 were fond of hiding in corners, lying down often, and 

 shewed a slight indication of callosity on the sternum and 

 knees. 



All the Musks are probably natives of Asia and the great 

 Islands of the Indian Ocean. Seba and Shaw have figured 

 several small animals, supposed to belong to this genus, 

 but among them, those of South America are in all likeli- 

 hood fawns of some sort of deer, and those of Africa, fe- 

 males of the Gueveis or Royal Antelopes, which, with a 

 similar stature, form not a single species, but a small 

 group. 

 The Thibetan Musk (Moschus Moschiferus, Lin.), was 



