332 
THE  MUSK-DEER. 
7.  Neither  does  catechu-tannic  acid  yield  sugar,  if  treated  in 
the  same  way. 
8.  A  solution  of  pure  catechuic  acid  is  precipitated  by  sugar 
and  reduces  Fehling's  test  liquid  (Annalen  d.  Chemie  u. 
Pharm.  xcvi.,  337—361.)  Maisch. 
THE  MUSK-DEER. 
(From  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal.) 
This  little  persecuted  animal  would  probably  have  been  left 
undisturbed  to  pass  a  life  of  peace  and  quietness  in  its  native 
forests,  but  for  the  celebrated  perfume  with  which  nature  has 
provided  it,  Its  skin  being  worthless  from  its  small  size,  the 
flesh  alone  would  hold  out  no  inducement  for  the  villagers  to 
hunt  it  while  larger  game  was  more  easily  procurable,  and  its 
comparative  insignificance  would  alike  have  protected  it  from 
the  pursuit  of  the  European  sportsman.  As  the  musk,  however, 
is  the  most  valuable  of  all,  no  animal  is  so  universally  sought 
after  in  every  place  it  is  known  to  inhabit.  Musk  is  in  demand 
in  nearly  every  part  of  the  world,  yet  little,  I  believe;  is  known 
of  the  nature  and  habits  of  the  animal  that  produces  it. 
The  musk-deer  is  rather  more  than  three  feet  long,  and  stands 
two  high  at  the  shoulder ;  but  they  vary  considerably  in  size, 
those  found  in  thick  shady  woods  being  invariably  larger  than 
those  on  rocky  open  ground.  The  head  is  small,  the  ears  long 
and  erect.  The  male  has  a  tusk  depending  from  each  upper 
jaw,  which,  in  a  full-grown  animal  is  about  three  inches  long, 
the  thickness  of  a  goose-quill ;  sharp  pointed,  and  curving  slight- 
ly backwards.  The  general  color  is  a  dark  speckled  brownish- 
grey,  deepening  to  nearly  black  on  the  hind- quarters,  where  it  is 
edged  down  the  inside  of  the  thighs  with  reddish-yellow.  The 
throat,  belly,  and  legs  are  of  a  lighter  grey.  Legs  long  and 
slender  ;  toes  long  and  .pointed  ;  the  hind  heels  are  long,  and  rest 
on  the  ground  as  well  as  the  toes.  The  fur  is  composed  of  thick 
spiral  hairs,  not  unlike  miniature  porcupine  quills  ;  they  are  very 
brittle,  breaking  with  a  slight  pull,  and  so  thickly  set,  that  num- 
bers may  be  pulled  out  without  altering  the  outward  appear- 
ance of  the  fur.  The  fur  is  much  longer  and  thicker  on  the 
hind  parts  than  the  fore,  and  gives  the  animal  the  appearance 
