ANAL GLANDS OF MUSTELID.E. 15 



This general plau is further modified in the Badgers, where 

 not only are there anal glands of a usual type, but also in their 

 neighborhood is found, in both sexes, a racemose cluster of 

 glands, the secretion of which is turned into the subcaudal 

 pouch, which is generally described as appertaining to the 

 anus; but its form is peculiar, and its contents, moreover, are 

 of a different character from those of the anal glands proper. 

 In some respects this pouch resembles the large reservoirs of 

 viverreum of the Civets, and, as in these cases, is sparsely 

 hairy. Thus the Badger is a special case in its own family, 

 where it distantly represents, in this respect, the Viverridce. 

 These last have, in addition to anal glands, a secretory appa- 

 ratus for special products, though even here species of Herpestis 

 have anal glands like those of various Mitstellclcv. 



3. — Resume of M. Chathi's views of the classification of the 

 family, as based on the odoriferous glands. 



"This is one of the least homogeneous families of Carnivora, 

 if we include in it, after Van der Hoeven and others, such dif- 

 ferent animals as the Otter, Pole-cat, Badger, Skunk, Marten, 

 and Eatel. It is surprising that types so distinct as these 

 should have been suffered to remain thus far in an association 

 as intimate as it is un philosophical, and it is easily seen how 

 Milne-Edwards was enabled to form three families out of the 

 components of so miscellaneous an assemblage as that of the 

 21ustelidw. In the configuration of the limbs, as well as in their 

 entirely peculiar habits, the Otters may represent one family 

 {Lutrida')y then come the true MusteUdw, embracing Miistela, 

 PutoriuSy &c. ; and, finally, the family Melidce, consisting of 

 Mephitis (with Conepatiis, &c.), Meles [Taxidea, &c.), and Melli- 

 vora. 



"Now, these three divisions correspond with as many modi- 

 fications of the perinteal secretory apparatus : the two former, 

 Lutridce and Mustelidce, offer in a general way a single pair of 

 glands opening on the border of the anus, one on each side, 

 furnished with a receptacle for the product of secretion. 



" In the Melidw, the Badgers on the one hand and the Skunks 

 and Eatels on the other form two quite distinct sections. In 

 these latter genera are likewise found a single pair of anal 

 glands, but these are quite different from those of the Mustelidcv. 

 The receptacle has a remarkable capacity -, the follicular mass, 

 instead of spreading over it, occupies but a small portion of its 



