118 Anatomical Notes [Feb. 



the earth, until the eye rests on the precise spot. It is therefore their 

 acute faculty of scent, combined with their keenness of vision, which 

 directs the vulture tribe to their prey. 



Thus I think I have shewn that the three points in dispute, re- 

 specting the vultures of the United States are not applicable either to 

 the Indian or Bengal vultures*, both of which are gregarious, both 

 feed on fresh as well as putrid substances, and both discover their 

 prey by the combined faculties of scent and sight. 



VIII. — Notes taken at the post-mortem examination of a Musk Deer. 

 By A. Campbell, Esq., Nipdl Residency, June 24, 1834. 



[Addressed to J. T. Pearson, Esq., Curator, Asiatic Society.] 



I have the pleasure to send you, for the museum of the Asiatic 

 Society, a very perfect skin (head and feet included) of the Thibetan 

 Musk Deei - , as well as of the Wah of the Bhotiahs, Ailurus Ful- 

 gens of the zoologists, and hope they may reach you in the same 

 perfect state they are now in. The musk has been a full grown male, 

 and a large one too. The natives of Nipdl make a marked distinction 

 between the Trans -Himalayan animal, and the Cacharya one, or that 

 which inhabits the country along the foot of the snows on this side of 

 the great snowy mountains ; ranking the musk of the former much 

 higher than that of the latter variety. The specimen now sent is of the 

 Trans- Himalayan animal. The notes appended are of the Cis-Himdlayan 

 one. Through the kindness of Mr. Hodgson, I have had opportunities 

 of examining specimens of both animals, but without observing any 

 important difference between them. The musk pod of the Thibetan 

 animal is covered with short close hair, while that of the Cachar one 

 is clothed with very long hair, and hangs more loosely from the 

 belly. I believe the musk of both, when unadulterated, to be much 

 alike, and that the superficial value attached to the Thibetan animals' 

 produce, arises from the circumstance of its being less frequently 

 impregnated with foreign substances, for the purpose of increasing 

 its weight and bulk, than the Cachar article. The pods, as they are 

 found in the market, whether Thibetan or Cacharya, vary a good deal 

 in appearance, and hence the general division of them above noted 

 is subdivided : the thinner skinned ones being called Kdghazi, or 

 papeiy, the thicker skinned ones Ganauta. 



* Indian Vulture, Vultur Indicus. — Bengal Vulture, Vuliur Bengalensis. 

 Of the habits of the Pondicherry Vulture (V. Ponticerianus) I know little. 

 They are generally seen singly or in pairs, — never I believe in flocks. (?) Do they 

 in the East, hold the place and habits of the king of the Vultures of the West ? 



