THE THIIiETIAX MUSK. 
11 ? 
mois and some of the mountain goats, climbing 
and bounding among the precipices of tbe alpine 
ridges of central Asia with astonishing activity, as- 
sembling in herds, and often appearing in very con- 
siderable numbers. It is extremely shy and wary, 
easily alarmed, and difficult to be approached. It 
is shot or speared, and sometimes killed by the 
cross-boiv, ■with a string set in the path of the 
animal. They inhabit the region between China 
and Tartary, extending to the mountains above the 
sources of the Indus, and northward to near the Lake 
Baikal. At times they appear to migrate from 
one district to anotla^r, assembling previously in large 
herds. Some zoologists, however, have considered 
this assemblage not connected with migration, hut 
consisting entirely of males in search of the female. 
During winter, they are said to be able to subsist 
on a scanty fare of lichens, but dmang summer, a fa- 
vourite food is the leaves of the Rhododendron 
Dauricum. 
The musk is contained in a bag situated on the 
belly of the male, and appears to have some con- 
nection with tbe season of love, for at this or during 
the rutting period it is secreted in the greatest pro- 
fusion, and of the strongest scent : it is chiefly for 
this they are hunted, and, when killed, the bag is cut 
ofi', fastened at the opening, and dried, when it is 
ready for sale. Several thousand bags are thus pro- 
cured in a season ; but even with this number the 
substance is often adulterated before being brotight 
