514 Musks 



matter of absolute indifference to them, the thick coat of pithy hair afford- 

 ing an insulating protector capable of maintaining the natural heat in almost 

 any degree of temperature. In its agility and capacity of -maintaining its 

 foot-hold on smooth and slippery surfaces of rocks the musk-deer is the 

 equal of the African klipspringer ; but the feet of the two animals display a 

 remarkable difference in their conformation. In the klipspringer the lateral 

 hoots are minute and functionless, and the main hoofs short and rounded, so 

 that the animal rests on their tips alone. In the musk-deer, on the other 

 hand, both the main and the lateral hoofs are long and pointed, and the 

 animal appears to use the latter by grasping ridges or points of rock. 



With regard to its food, General Kinloch states that this consists chiefly 

 of leaves and flowers, although another writer mentions grass and lichens ; 

 but the difference in these statements may be due to locality or season. 

 When standing at gaze, either before or after the first series of bounds, 

 musk-deer will occasionally utter a loud hiss, but, except for loud screams 

 when wounded or captured, no other cry seems to have been noticed. 

 From specimens kept in captivity many years ago in the residency at 

 Katmandu, Nepal, it appears that the pairing-season takes place in January, 

 and that the young are born in the following June. Although occasionally 

 there are twins, there is usually but a single fawn produced at a birth. To 

 make up for this slow rate of propagation, the fawns are able to breed 

 within a year from their birth. 



The musk-pod of the males, which, as already stated, is situated on the 

 abdomen, is taken out entire and dried ; the contents usually weighing 

 about an ounce, and selling for some sixteen or eighteen shillings. The 

 quantity of musk in the pod varies, however, according to the season and 

 the age of the animal from which it is taken. It has been stated that the 

 secretion is only yielded during the pairing-season, but if Hodgson be right 

 in saving that this occurs in January, the former statement cannot be 

 correct, as I have frequently shot musk-deer with full pods in May and 

 [une. The flesh has no musky flavour, if the pod be removed immediately 

 after death, and makes excellent soup. 



In addition to the large number shot, many musk-deer are captured 

 by means of snares in certain parts of the Himalaya. General Macintyre 

 describes the method as follows : — " A low fence is made of boughs, etc., 

 along the ridge of a hill, sometimes a mile or more in length. At intervals 



