MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 89 



skunks and badgers agree in many points of external conform- 

 ation; in fact Conepatus mapurito, one of the skunks is almost 

 as much of a badger, to all outward appearance." 



As regards the one peculiarity of this sub-family without 

 which a skunk would be no skunk, it may be interesting to 

 quote again from Dr. Coues (1. c. p. 191): "In contemplating 

 this singular provision of nature for the protection of an other- 

 wise inoffensive and almost defenseless creature, we can but 

 admire the simplicity of the means employed. Some little 

 further development of glands common to the Mustelidce and 

 some inscrutable modification of the operations in the secretory 

 follicles, which gives a peculiar character to the fluid elabor- 

 ated, results in means of self-preservation as singular as it is 

 efficacious, habitual reliance upon which changes the economy 

 of the animal and impresses its whole nature." For a descrip- 

 tion of the glands see beyond. 



The account given by Chatin in the Annalesdes Sciences Natur- 

 elles, 1874, furnishes us with the following facts regarding the 

 anatomy of these parts in the South American genus Conepatus: 



The glandular part, beginning 33 mm. from the prostrate gland, is 

 nearly trapezoidal and lies beneath the urethra. It is enveloped in a 

 thick muscular tunic constituted chiefly by fibres from the ischio-caver- 

 nous and bulbo-cavernous muscles and about 3 mm. thick. Within these 

 muscular layers is the glandular portion proper occupying but a limited 

 part of the surface of the reservoir. The caeca of the follicles, 0.55 mm in 

 diameter, are of various shapes. The reservoir itself is very large and 

 covered by a thick tunic of dense, white, laminated tissue and elastic 

 fibres. Toward the anterior part of the cavity is the inner opening of the 

 duct. The ducts open outwardly in two papillae situated on either side 

 the anus, about 9 mm. from the median line. These papillae together 

 with the anus itself, are hidden by flaps of skin covering the entire de- 

 pression in which both are found. 



The account of Dr. J. S. Parker of the anatomy of the anal 

 glands of Mephitis being the only one which touches upon the 

 physical characters of the secretion itself, we transcribe a por- 

 tion of the article. American Naturalist, 1871, p. 246. 



"I examined the cavity of the pelvic bones, without any peculiar result, 

 and at last detached all except the hard, muscular pouches and the common 

 fundamental aperture. These I carefully cut loose, and thus reduced 

 the formidable animal to the last and least parts possible, and they 

 seemed totally inadequate to explain the well-known effect which this 

 animal produces. I next boldly severed, longitudinally, the rectum and 

 anus; nothing was to be seen worthy of remark, except two teat-like pro- 

 jections in two volcanic or crater-like cavities that seemed suggestive of 

 what might happen. So I cut away all the remaining superfluous parts 



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