THE TIBETIAN MUSK. 



furnifhed on each fide with a curved flender tufk, about two inches long, 

 which are expofed to view when the mouth is clofed, and form the moft 

 obvious diflinction of the Ipecies. Thefe tu(ks are fharp on their inner 

 furface, like a knife ; their fubftance refembles ivory. The ears of the Mutk 

 are long and narrow, pale yellow on the infide, deep brown on the outfide ; 

 the chin yellowiih ; the general colour of the body deep iron grey, the tips 

 of the hairs being ferruginous, the remainder blackifh, growing paler 

 towards the roots ; the hairs are long, ere6t., waved, and very thick fet. 

 The fore part of the neck is, in fome, marked on each fide with a long 

 white liripe, from the head to the cheli; and the flanks and fides are 

 obfcurely llreaked with whitilh : in others, the colour is uniform. The 

 hoofs are long, black, and much divided ; the tail extremely Ihort, and hid 

 in the fur. The female is lefs than the male, and is without tutks. 



The principal places of refidence of this animal are the kingdom of 

 Tibet, Bontan, Tonquin, and the province of Mohang Meng in China. It 

 alfo reforts to the neighbourhood of the lake Baikal, and of the rivers 

 Janefea and Argun. Its favourite haunts are the tops of pine-clad 

 mountains, and the moll inacceflible wilds; where it lives, like the Chamois 

 and other mountain quadrupeds, dilplaying great activity in its motions, and 

 flying with precipitation at the approach of man. Sometimes, in deep fnow, 

 they are compelled by hunger to defcend to the fouthern plains, where they 

 feed on young corn and rice. Though the chace of them is difficult, and 

 even dangerous, they are taken in confiderable numbers ; for the traveller 

 Tavernier informs us, that in one journey he purchaled feven thoufand fix 

 hundred and feventy-three mufk bags. 



The drug, for which they are fo much valued, is contained in an oval 

 bag, or tumour, of the fize of a lien's egg, hanging from the middle of the 

 belly of the male only. The mulk is a fecretion from the animal's fluids, 

 made in the form of an undluous, brownifli matter, which may be fqueezed 

 through two external apertures in the bag. When dry, it is of a dark, 

 reddilh brown, or rufty black colour, and of a granulated texture. This, 

 fubitance is one of the firongefi: and moil durable perfumes in nature ; and. 



