258 NORTH AMERICAN MUSTELID^. 



of the urethra in those animals that, like the present species 

 and the Dog, have no Cowper's glands. The muscular coat, 

 about 3'"'" thick, is composed of two layers readily distin- 

 guished by the direction of their fibres ; those of the superficial 

 layer being transverse, that is to say, perpendicular to the 

 median or antero-posterior axis of the gland, while the fibres 

 of the deep layer run in the opposite direction, parallel with the 

 same axis. 



Below these muscular layers, that is to say, within the general 

 muscular envelope, is found the follicular or glandular portion 

 proper of the organ ; it is not regularly distributed around the 

 central reservoir, as in most Carnivora^ but occupies only a 

 limited portion of the surface of this receptacle. The follicles 

 are rather large, and of a reddish-brown color; their numerous 

 well-developed culs-de-sac measure on an average 0™"\55 in 

 diameter, and are variously rounded, ovoidal, club-shaped, &c. 



The reservoir, which is of great size, is covered with a thick 

 whitish tunic composed of dense laminated tissue and elastic 

 fibres, the presence of which is readily determined by means of 

 acetic acid. In the specimen examined, the receptacle was 

 empty, containing only a few dirty brown pellicles, which 

 showed under the microscope nothing but laminated fibres and 

 fine granules. Toward the anterior extremity of this cavity is 

 found the opening of a duct, through which the fluid secreted 

 is conducted to the lateral anal pore, as may be easily ascer- 

 tained by passing a probe. The surface of the reservoir, marked 

 with numerous folds and furrows, resembles to some extent that 

 of Herpestes faseiatus. 



It is an established fact, then, that the fetid humor which 

 was long supposed to be urine is the secretion of true anal 

 glands. It is to be regretted that the anatomy of the various 

 species of Mephitis is not better known, for it would be interest- 

 ing to compare them in the details of this structure. Much is 

 still required to complete their history, and it is to be hoped 

 that the missing links ma3' be soon supplied. 



Geograpliiccd distribution and habits. 



The general extra-limital dispersion of the species southward 

 has been already indicated. Lichtenstein's M. mesoleuca was 

 procured by Deppe, in 1825, near Chico, Mexico ; his leuconota 

 was from the Rio Alvarado, Mexico. Bennett's J/, nasuta came 



