Chap. XVIII. Mammals — Odours emitted. 529 



many other quadrupeds the glands are of the same size in both 

 sexes, 9 but their uses are not known. In other species the 

 glands are confined to the males, or are more developed than in 

 the females ; and they almost always become more active during 

 the rutting- season. At this period the glands on the sides of 

 the face of the male elephant enlarge, and emit a secretion 

 having a strong musky odour. The males, and rarely the 

 females, of many kinds of bats have glands and protrudable 

 sacks situated in various parts ; and it is believed that these are 

 odoriferous. 



The rank effluvium of the male goat is well known, and that 

 of certain male deer is wonderfully strong and persistent. Or 

 the banks of the Plata I perceived the air tainted with the 

 odour of the male Cervus campestris, at half a mile to leeward of 

 a herd ; and a silk handkerchief, in which I carried home a skin, 

 though often used and washed, retained, when first unfolded, 

 traces of the odour for one year and seven months. This 

 animal does not emit its strong odour until more than a year 

 old, and if castrated whilst young never emits it. 10 Besides 

 the general odour, permeating the whole body of certain rumi- 

 nants (for instance, Bos moschatus) in the breeding-season, many 

 deer, antelopes, sheep, and goats, possess odoriferous glands in 

 various situations, more especially on their faces. The so-called 

 tear-sacks, or suborbital pits, come under this head. These 

 glands secrete a semi-fluid fetid matter which is sometimes so 

 copious as to stain the whole face, as I have myself seen in an 

 antelope. They are "usually larger in the male than in the 

 " femfale, and their development is checked by castration." 11 

 According to Desmarest they are altogether absent in the female 

 of Antilope subgntturosa. Hence, there can be no doubt that 

 they stand in close relation with the reproductive functions. 

 They are also sometimes present, and sometimes absent, in 

 nearly-allied forms. In the adult male musk-deer (Moschus 

 moschiferus), a naked space round the tail is bedewed with an 



9 As with the castoreum of the 10 Rengger, ' Naturgeschichte der 



beaver, .see Mr. L. H. Morgan's Saugethiere von Paraguay,' 1830, 



most interesting work, 'The A me- s. 355. This observer also gives 



rican Beaver,' 1868, p. 300. Pallas some curious* particulars in regard 



(' Spic. Zoolog.' fasc. viii. 1779, p. to the odour. 



23) has well discussed the odorifer- u Owen, 'Anatomy of Verte- 



ons glands of mammals. Owen brates,' vol. iii. p. 632. See, also 



(' Anat. of Vertebrates,' vol. iii. p. Dr. Murie's observations on these 



634) also gives an account of these glauds in the ' Proc. Zoolog. Soc' 



glands, including those of the ele- 1870, p. 340. Desmarest, On the 



pliant, and (p. 763) those of shrew- Antilope subgutturasa, i Mamma* 



mice. On Bats, Mr. Dobson in logie,' 1820, p. 455. 

 Proc. Zoolog. Soc' 1873, p. 241. 



