ANAL GLANDS OF CONEPATUS MAPURITO. 257 



above quoted. Altliougli the specimen bad been i)reserved in 

 alcohol for several years, it was still extremely offensive, and 

 the preservative fluid was tainted with the same fetor. M. 

 Ohatin's account is substantially as follows: — The anus presents 

 5gmiu behind the root of the penis, in a large irregularly 

 elliptical depression, crossed by numerous grooves; the sur- 

 rounding integument forms a sort of flap folded about the anus 

 and excretory pores of the glands. These appear as openings 

 pierced in the centre of two thick, prominent, umbilicated 

 papillae, situated on each side of the anus, about 9""'^ from the 

 middle line. Moderate pressure sufiices to bring up to these 

 orifices the dirty brown fetid liquid which has made Skunks 

 famous. Removal of the cutaneous fold which partially covers 

 these nipples shows that they are situated in a kind of recess 

 rising about 5"^"^ above the floor of this small i)ouch; the 

 calibre of the pore which opens at the summit is sufiicient to 

 admit a probe about a millimetre in diameter. Dissection of 

 the periuieum brings to view the whole secretory apparatus, the 

 size of which is so considerable that it is surprising Ouvier 

 had nothing to say on the subject in his chapter upon anal 

 glands and those of neighboring parts. Stannius and Siebold 

 were also silent, while Owen confined himself to mere mention 

 of the anal glands of the Skunks. 



The glandular mass is nearly trapezoidal; it begins 33°^"^ 

 from the prostate, on a level with the origin of the corpora caver- 

 nosa, the roots of which thus extend upon the posterior or pro- 

 static portion of the gland; superiorly it lies in relation with 

 the urethra, which passes over it. It is enveloped in a thick 

 muscular tunic, the origin of which may be readily determined. 

 It is well known that the ischio-cavernous muscle (ischio-penial 

 of German authors) passes obliquely downward and inward to 

 the root of the corpus cavernosum, where it ends in tendinous 

 or muscular fibres. ^* But sometimes", says Leyh, *' there are 

 found below this muscle some isolated muscular fibres which 

 appear to have no function." They may be so regarded in 

 domestic animals ; but, in the present case, nature furnishes 

 another instance of her economy in giving them no inconsider- 

 able part to play. These same fascicles form a large part, but 

 not the whole, of the muscular envelope of the gland ; the bulbo- 

 cavernous muscle is equally concerned in the formation of the 

 tunic ; nor can we entirely separate from it the prostatic muscles 

 which are blended with it, and which cover the upper portion 

 17 M • 



