THE EUMINANT OEDEE. 311 



ground togetter. When at full speed these bounds are some- 

 times astonishing for so small an animal. In a gentle slope I 

 have seen them clear a space of more than sixty feet at a single 

 bound, for several successive leaps, and spring over bushes of 

 considerable height at the same time. They are very sure- 

 footed, and although a forest animal, in travelling over rocky 

 and precipitous ground have perhaps no equal. Where even 

 the wild Burrel Sheep [Ovis nahura) is obliged to move slowly 

 and carefully, the Musk Deer bounds quickly and fearlessly ; and 

 although I have often driven them on to rocks which I have 

 thought it impossible that they could cross, they have invariably 

 found a way in some direction, and I never knew an instance of 

 one missing its footing, or falling, unless wounded. 



" They eat but little compared to other Ruminating animals, at 

 least one would imagine so from the small quantity found in 

 their stomachs, the contents of which are always in such a pulpy 

 state that it is impossible to tell what food they prefer. I have 

 often shot them whilst feeding, and found in the mouth or throat 

 various kinds of shrubs and grasses, and often the long white 

 lichen 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 Pheasants. The 

 mountaineers believe that the males kill and eat snakes, and feed 

 upon the leaves of a small and very fragrant-smelling laui-el, 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. 



" The young are born either in June or Jidy, 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 apart from both, and only visiting to give 

 them suck. Should a young one be caught, its bleating will 

 sometimes bring the old one to the spot ; but I never knew an 

 instance of one being seen abroad with its dam, or of two young 

 ones being seen together. Their solitary habits are innate, for 

 if a Fawn is taken young and suckled by a Sheep or Goat, it will 

 not for some time associate with its foster-dam, but as soon as 

 satisfied with sucking seeks some spot for concealment. It is 

 to see them suck, for aU the while they keep leaping up 



