File:A naturalist in Western China - with vasculum, camera, and gun, being some account of eleven year's travel, exploration, and observation in the more remote parts of the flowery kingdom; (1913) (14596024689).jpg

Identifier: naturalistinwes02wils (find matches)
Title: A naturalist in Western China : with vasculum, camera, and gun, being some account of eleven year's travel, exploration, and observation in the more remote parts of the flowery kingdom;
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Wilson, Ernest Henry, 1876-1930
Subjects: Botany
Publisher: London, Methuen
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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It occurs solitary or inpairs, though in a small area several may be found. It is avery agile little beast, and a favourite retiring-place during thedaytime is the upper part of some half-fallen, sloping tree-trunk. Such trees it ascends with ease, and hunters closelyexamine every one of these trees for the marks made by thesharp hoofs of this animal. It lies close to the trunk and is notreadily detected. Among rocks in the forests is anotherfavourite haunt. A 12-bore with S.S.G. or A.A. shot is thebest weapon for hunting these animals. The natives trap,snare, and more rarely shoot them. A male shot west ofTachienlu by )\Ir. Zappey measured: total length, 34 inches ;height at shoulder, 2if inches ; tail, if inches. Legs, grey ;body, dark brown (back, reddish-brown), speckled with greyishand tawny yellow ; head, grey ; front of neck, light grey ; belly,yellowish-brown ; ears, dark grey, except outside edge, whichis light brownish-yellow ; upper canine teeth sabre-like, i^-inches long.
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SPORT IN WESTERN CHINA 171 Neither sex has horns, and the long tusks and musk-glanddistinguish the male from the female. The hair is hollow, verycoarse and loose, and readily pulls away. The flesh is excellenteating (equal to the best Muntjac), and the heads make prettytrophies. The Chiala chieftain keeps some of these animalsin an enclosure at Tachienlu. They appeared, when Zappeyand I saw them, to be very happy and contented, and we wereinformed that they bred under captivity. Certainly theymake most charming pets with their shapel)^ face and head. For a small animal. Musk Deer is of stout and ratherheavy build ; the hind-limbs are longer than the front ones,raising the rump above the level of the fore-quarters, givingthe animal a hunched-up appearance. The type-locality of M. sifanicus is the province of Kansu,and quite likely the Musk Deer found west of Tachienlurepresent a local race. Perhaps it should be identified withthe Himalayan M. moschiferus. RIVER DEER, CHEE-TSZE It is cu

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