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THIS animal is a native of the interior parts of India. It seems to be of a middle nature, between the Cow and the Deer, and carries the appearance of both in its form. In size, it is as much smaller than the one, as it is larger than the other: its body, horns, and tail, are not unlike those of a Bull; and the head, neck, and legs, are similar to those of a Deer. The colour, in general, is ash or grey, from a mixture of black hairs and white: all along the ridge or edge of the neck, the hair is blacker, longer, and more erect, making a short, thin, and upright mane, reaching down to the hump: its horns are seven inches. long, six inches round at the root, tapering by degrees, and terminating in a blunt point: the ears are large and

beautiful, seven inches in length, and spread to a considerable breadth; they are white on the edge and on the inside, except where two black bands mark the hollow of the ear with a Zebra-like variety. The height of this animal, at the shoulder, is four feet one inch; behind the loins it only measures four feet.

The female differs considerably from the male, both in height and thickness; it is much smaller; in shape and colour it very much resembles a Deer, and has no horns: she has four nipples, and is supposed to go nine months with young: she has commonly one at a birth, and sometimes two.

Several of this species were brought to this country in the year 1767, which continued to breed annually for some years after. Dr Hunter, who had one of them in his custody for some time, describes it as a harmless and gentle animal; that it seemed pleased with every kind of familiarity, always licked the hand that either stroked or fed it, and never once attempted to use its horns offensively. It seemed to have much dependence on its organs of smell, and snuffed keenly whenever any person came in sight: it did so likewise, when food or drink was brought to it; and would not taste the bread which was offered, if the hand that presented it happened to smell of turpentine.

Its manner of fighting is very particular, and is thus described :-Two of the males at Lord Clive's being put into an inclosure, were observed, while they were at some distance from each other, to prepare for the attack, by falling down upon their knees: they then shuffled towards each other, still keeping upon their knees; and,

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at the distance of a few yards, they made a spring, and darted against each other with great force.

The following anecdote will serve to shew, that during the rutting season, these animals are fierce and vicious, and not to be depended upon :-A labouring man, without knowing that the animal was near him, went up to the outside of the inclosure: the Nyl-ghau, with the quickness of lightning, darted against the wood-work with such violence, that he dashed it to pieces, and broke off one of his horns close to the root. The death of the animal, which happened soon after, was supposed to be owing to the injury he sustained by the blow.

Bernier says, that it is the favourite amusement of the Mogul Emperor to hunt the Nyl-ghau; and that he kills them in great numbers, and distributes quarters of them to his omrahs; which shews that they are esteemed good and delicious food.

The Nyl-ghau is frequently brought from the interior parts of Asia, as a rare and valuable present to the nabobs and other great men at our settlements in India.

It remains to be considered, whether this rare animal might not be propagated with success in this country. That it will breed here, is evident from experience; and, if it should prove docile enough to be easily trained to labour, its great swiftness and considerable strength might be applied to the most valuable purposes.

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(Moschus Moschiferus, Lin.-Le Musc, Buff.)

THERE have been various accounts given of this animal by naturalists and travellers; by whom it seems to have been taken notice of more for the perfume which it produces, than for the information of the curious enquirer into its nature and qualities: for we are still at a loss what rank to assign it among the various tribes of quadrupeds.

it has no horns; and whether it ruminates or not, is uncertain: but, by its wanting the fore teeth in the upper jaw, we are led to suppose that it belongs either to the Goat or the Deer kind; and have therefore given it a place after the Gazelles, relying upon those characteristic marks which are known, and leaving it to those naturalists, who may be possessed of better means of information, to ascertain its genuine character.

The Musk of Thibet resembles the Roe-buck in form. It is somewhat above two feet in height at the shoulder; the hind legs, which are longer than the fore legs, are two feet nine inches high at the haunches; the length is three feet six inches from the head to the tail; the head is above half a foot long: its upper jaw is much larger than the lower; and on each side of it there is a slender tusk, near two inches long, which hangs down, bending inwards like a hook, and very sharp on the inner edge: its lower jaw contains eight small cutting teeth; and in each jaw there are six grinders: its ears are long, small, and erect, like those of a Rabbit: the hair on the whole body is long and rough, marked with small waves from top to bottom: the colour is a rusty-brown; under the belly and tail it is white: on each side of the lower jaw there is a tuft of thick hair, about an inch long: its hoofs are deeply cloven, slender, and black; the spurious hoofs are likewise very long: its tail is not more than two inches in length, and hid in the hair. The use it makes of its tusks is not well known: the most probable is that of hooking up roots out of the ground, and catching at small twigs and branches of trees, upon which it feeds. The female has no tusks, is less than the male, and has two small teats.

The Musk is found in the kingdom of Thibet, in several of the Chinese provinces, about the lake Baikal, and near the rivers Jenisea and Argun, from lat. 60 to 45; but seldom so far south, except driven by great falls of snow to seek for food in more temperate climates. It is naturally a timid animal, and endowed with a quick sense of hearing. Its solitary haunts are usually mountains, covered with pines; where it avoids mankind, and

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