THE RUMINANT ORDER. 
311 
ground together. When at full speed these bounds are some- 
times astonishing for so small an animal. In a gentle slope I 
have seen them clear a space of more than sixty feet at a single 
bound, for several successive leaps, and spring over bushes of 
considerable height at the same time. They are very sure- 
footed, and although a forest animal, in travelling over rocky 
and precipitous ground have perhaps no equal. Where even 
the wild Burrel Sheep ( Ovis nahura) is obliged to move slowly 
and carefully, the Musk Deer hounds quickly and fearlessly ; and 
although I have often driven them on to rocks which I have 
thought it impossible that they could cross, they have invariably 
found a way in some direction, and I never knew an instance of 
one missing its footing, or falling, unless wounded. 
“ They eat but little compared to other Ruminating animals, at 
least one would imagine so from the small quantity found in 
their stomachs, the contents of which are always in such a pulpy 
state that it is impossible to tell what food they prefer. I have 
often shot them whilst feeding, and found in the mouth or throat 
various kinds of shrubs and grasses, and often the long white 
lichen that hangs so luxuriantly from the trees in the higher 
forests. Roots also seem to form a portion of their food, as they 
scratch holes in the ground, like many of the Hill Pheasants. The 
mountaineers believe that the males kill and eat snakes, and feed 
upon the leaves of a small and very fragrant- smelling laurel, but 
from the few occasions upon which I have seen this laurel stripped 
of any portion of its leaves, it does not appear to afford a very 
favourite repast. 
“ The young are born either in June or July, and almost every 
female brings forth yearly, and often twins. These are always 
deposited in separate places some distance from each other, the 
dam herself keeping apart from both, and only visiting to give 
them suck. Should a young one be caught, its bleating will 
sometimes bring the old one to the spot ; but I never knew an 
instance of one being seen abroad with its dam, or of two young 
ones being seen together. Their solitary habits are innate, for 
if a Fawn is taken young and suckled by a Sheep or Goat, it will 
not for some time associate with its foster-dam, but as soon as 
satisfied with sucking seeks some spot for concealment. It is 
amusing to see them suck, for all the while they keep leaping up 
