320 
Contributions in Natural History. 
[Oct, 
V, Contributions in Natural History. By B. A. Hodgson, Esq. 
1 . The Musk Deer. 
As I believe nothing whatever is known of the Musk Deer’s period of gesta- 
tion, or of the appearance of the young at birth, I note down some parti- 
culars upon these points, which I recently had the good luck to possess my- 
self of. , . 
General Bhim S4n, prime Minister of the Raja of Ndpdl, keeps a number o 
wild animals and birds, at large, within the lofty enclosure of a walled garden. 
Amongst the former are several Musk Deer, males and females. 
In January last, a male and female, the former of which had been taken about 
a year, and the latter, more than four years, previously, had sexual commerce 
together ; which resulted in the birth of a single little one, of the male sex, 
in June The intercourse of the sexes was frequent 1 , and conducted witiou 
any shyness, in the presence of the keepers. The female’s period of gestation 
was about 170 days. 
The young when born was marked with oblong spots, of a rusty colon , 
posed, linearly and lengthwise, down either side of the body, pretty muc as 
we see in the young of the wild hog and of several species of deer, w ic 
are altogether immaculate when grown up. The little Musk had, also, severa 
rounder spots, scattered without arrangement, upon the hams. The legs, siou e ■ t 
neck, and head, were unspotted; and in this respect, as inmost ot erS ’ 
aspect of the young was similar to that of the parents. At two mon s - 
a half old the spots began to grow indistinct, and, no great while a terwa 
disappeared by confusion with that sprinkling of rusty hue, . which is pro 
interspersed with the dusky brown ground colour of the animal, when ma u ^ 
and which admixture began generally to display itself in the young one a ou 
age mentioned above. Soon after the subject of this paper was begotten, 1 1 
made his escape by leaping a wall fully seven feet high. He was pursu 
recovered ; but broke his heart in the chase. JThe mother is sti ^ 
ment, and in high health apparently, notwithstanding the very « nU > ‘ 
of this climate and season to an animal whose natural habitat is a' » 
glaciers of the Himalaya. She has, however, (as have her companio ^ 
advantage of never being pent up in a cage ; and in the garden where s e ^ 
she can easily choose a moist cool lair, under very umbrageous re * * jt 
she reposes all day, with her cub beside her. She still suckles i , « 
has cut its teeth, and already crops the herbage occasionally. e 
no sign of the tusks in the young one, male though he be. ^ 
No peculiar caution is observed in respect to the diet of the u ^ 
get daily a small portion of grain, and this, with garden greens, * 
the animals pick up for themselves, constitutes their food. Ihe y ol “* 
is now approaching the completion of his third month, and ans '^ an imal> 
following description in form and colours. Like those of the He 
his quiescent attitudes indicate the most extraordinary elasticity o r four feet 
stands upon his toes rather than upon his entire hoofs, with . ^ s t r aigM 
placed in close opposition : the fore legs being, at the same time, ne gW)0 p in 
hut the hind ones extremely bent. Notwithstanding, however, t 8 nd 
the hind quarters, the croupe is still greatly highei than t ie 
* Coiiunt more ordinario. 
