THE RUTNAL. 
57 
The musk of this animal is very expensive and dif- 
ficult to be procured in its genuine state, as the na- 
tives manufacture a counterfeit article, which is ex- 
ported in immense quantities to China, through Tibet, 
and to the plains of Hindostan. 
There are several birds peculiar to these mountains, 
and among the most remarkable is the rutnal. It is 
very large and more beautiful than the pheasant, of 
which it is a species ; it exceeds the latter in size 
and is less delicately shaped, though greatly surpass- 
ing it in splendour of plumage. The body is en- 
tirely of a deep brilliant blue, without the slightest 
variation of tint; while the neck is of an intense 
purple so richly blended with green and scarlet as 
to glisten in the sun’s rays, and throwing off a 
continued succession of scintillations which sparkle 
like a glory round it. The back, when uncovered 
by the wings, is white : and as soon as the bird 
takes flight it spreads out a copious tail, the feathers 
of which are a bright cinnamon-colour. There is a 
large tuft on the head, beautifully variegated, which 
it can erect or depress at will, forming a graceful 
crest and adding greatly to the splendour of the 
neck and breast. At the moment of taking wing 
the rutnal gives a soft, clear whistle which is heard 
at a considerable distance. This bird is exceed- 
ingly wild and therefore not frequently met with ; 
like the musk-deer, it lurks in the highest recesses of 
the mountains, seeking the most sequestered spots 
and delighting in the dreariest solitudes, where hu- 
man foot seldom dares to penetrate. From this cause 
it is rarely to be obtained. Its flesh is said to be 
