Remarks on the Moschus Mernina. 421 



This and two other specimens I have seen (one of which 

 I kept alive in Chota Nagpoor) were all too young to show 

 the long canine teeth which, according to Geoffroy, project 

 considerably beyond the upper lip. In these, the canines 

 were short and triangular, and entirely concealed. The 

 hoofs are extremely narrow, hollowed or scooped underneath, 

 and the animal walks entirely on their tips, this gives 

 the legs a rigid appearance — the only way I can account 

 for the erroneous idea prevalent among the Hindoos, that 

 it has no knee-joint, and in resting leans against a tree. The 

 teeth are thus arranged : in the upper jaw, incisors 0, canines 

 1, molars 6, on each side. Lower jaw, incisors 4, canines 0, 

 molars 6, of a side. The front incisor is broader at the 

 edge than the root, the other three being pressed together, 

 narrow, and sloping outwards. The molars are trenchant, 

 (at least the two foremost ones) unlike those of ruminants 

 in general ; but being unable to examine the teeth well, 

 without spoiling the skin of the only specimen I now possess, 

 I must wait for another opportunity to describe the skull 

 more fully. The eyes are large and prominent, apparently 

 best fitted for a subdued light. The fur is finer than that 

 of deer in general. The tail is not above an inch long, and 

 concealed by the hair of the haunches. There is no lach- 

 rymal sinus in front of the eyes, which peculiarity together 

 with its being destitute of horns, is the generic trait separa- 

 ting it from Cervus (the deer proper.) 



The Memina is found throughout the jungly districts of 

 central India, but from its retired habits is not often seen. 

 It never ventures into open country, where its want of speed 

 would insure its easy capture, but keeps among rocks, in 

 the crevices of which it passes the heat of the day, and into 

 which it retires on the approach of an enemy. In these the 

 female brings forth her young (generally two in number) at 

 the close of the rains, or the commencement of the cold 

 season. The male keeps with the female during the rutting 

 season (about June or July), at other times they live solitary. 



