Page:Charles Catton, Animals (1788).pdf/31



the Muk Deer much doubt and various opinions have been held, by travellers and naturalits, in which clas of quadrupeds to place it; ome contend for the Hore, ome the Ox, and other the Deer; the latter appears the bet deciion, notwithtanding the animal wants thoe triking characteritics the horns; uffice it for us, the animal is known by the name of the Muk-Deer. The figure here drawn, will better hew its form, than any decription.

This animal is particularly known by producing that celebrated drug the muk, which heretofore was in high eteem as a perfume, and at this time is conidered as a very powerful and valuable medicine in nervous and other caes. In the male animal only, this exudation gathers in a mall bag or cuhion, between the legs, near the groin, in ubtance like coagulated blood, or, as ome decribe it, a brown fatty matter; indeed certain information is wanting of this particular. Mr. Gmelin reports, that when the bag by being over-full becomes troubleome, the animal exprees part by rubbing againt a tree, or other convenient place; the matter dropping in mall parcels on the ground is ecured, and is eteemed by much the bet muk.

Others again report, that it comes to market only in the repoitory formed by nature, which is not bigger than a mall egg, and that the weight of four is not more than an ounce. Conidering its mallnes, the animals mut be in great abundance to upply the quantities ued in Europe only; in the Eat its reputation being much greater, its ue mut be more general. The male animal only producing this treaure, mut be hunted and killed for the bag. This drug, like every other article of value, is very liable to adulterations; mall pieces of lead are thrut into the bag to increae the weight, and foreign matters often mixed with it, to augment the quantity.

To the mouth of the male animal there grow two teeth or tuks from the upper jaw, rather bent; thee are very white; to the female thee are wanting; the latter alo is much maller than the male. The fleh is trongly impregnated with the perfume of muk, but is nevertheles eaten by the Tartars.

They inhabit various parts of the Eat Indies, China, Tartary, and Siberia, from which latter place the one here drawn was brought. The colour, a reddih brown, marked on each ide the throat with a tripe of white, and everal plotches of the ame on the flanks; the attitude of the hind legs was alo very aukward, as expreed in the drawing. Naturally dwell among the mountains, and feed on herbage, and the young buds of trees, particularly, particularly pines: prefer olitude, and avoid mankind: if purued, flee to the highet ummits, inacceible to men or dogs.

The ize of the one from which this drawing was taken, was, from the noe to the inertion of the tail, two feet four inches; from the ground to the houlder, twenty inches.