ANAL GLANDS IN MUSTELID^. 13 



the matter relating to them. Here I iiitrodace M. Chatin's de- 

 scriptions of the parts as they appear ia Mustela foinay for the 

 same type of structure obtains throughout the subfamily Miis- 

 telincc. I also bring in the author s resume of the several mod- 

 ifications of structure found in the family at large, with extracts 

 from his proposed classification of the family, as based prima- 

 rily upon these organs, though I should add that I do not 

 indorse his views without qualification. 



1. — Description of the glands in Mustela foina, as illustrating 

 their structure throughout the subfamily Mustelince.* 



The anal glandular apparatus being essentially the same 

 throughout the Mustelince, the following description of the parts 

 as they appear in Mustela foina will suffice : — 



The anal orifice is found at the bottom of a fossa covered 

 with thin, smooth, whitish integument, with a slightly raised 

 border, the rudiment of a fold which is much more highly de- 

 veloped in the Skunk. At each side of this fossa, in a small 

 special depression, in front of which this fold lies, is found an 

 umbilicated papilla, through the narrow orifice of which the 

 milky-whitish secretion of the anal gland exudes. Within the 

 perina3um are two lateral masses, each as large as a small bean, 

 bound together by one muscular envelope. The anal gland is 

 11 millimetres long and 6 across the middle. Upon removal of 

 the muscular coat, which is rather delicate, the secretory part 

 comes into view ; its exterior is studded with nipple-like emi- 

 nences ; its substance is like that of the anal glands of most 

 Carnivores. The parenchymatous tissue mainly consists of lam- 

 inated fibres, elastic fibres, nerv^e tubes, and capillaries j the 

 striped muscular fibres do not penetrate the substance of 

 the organ. The culs-de-sac are of an average diameter of 0.04 

 millimetre ; they are sometimes varicose or moniliform, and in- 

 close a granular substance. In the middle of the gland is a 

 small receptacle for the product of secretion, which is voided 

 through a short duct opening on the edge of the anus, as above 

 said. 



It seems improbable that a scanty supply of merely disa- 

 greeably musky liquid can effectively answer in any way as a 

 means of defence. The simple fact that it does not appear to 

 be repugnant to the animals which may be supposed inimical 



* For themoditicatiou.s of the structure of the organs iu Skuuks and Badg- 

 ers, see subfamilies Mephitimv and MeUme. 



