CHARACTERS OF THE PARADOXURIN.E. 411 



degree of approximation of the right and left halves of the area. 

 When its margins meet in front of the penis, these present the 

 appearance, described by Flower, of two naked ridges of skin 

 running forwards from the penis. 



In longitudinal and transverse sections the gland is seen to 

 consist of a comparatively thin layer of dermal cells, of tolerably 

 uniform thickness transversely but gradvially inci-easing in thick- 

 ness from behind forwards. The secreting cells are not 

 differentiated into a right and left thickening as in Paradoxurus, 

 Arctictis, and the Yiverrines. The prepuce is hairy, and the 

 glans of the penis is quite short, a little expanded and rounded 

 distally, and without spicviles. 



General Conclusions with regard to the Perfuone- glands. 



From the account here given it is clear that the gland in the 

 Paradoxurines varies greatly in position in the genera discussed ; 

 but it is interesting to note the gradation in the situation it 

 assumes, especially in the female. In Arctictis it is entirely 

 perineal, lying between the anus and the vulva as in Genetta, 

 Viverra, etc., and in Hemigalus and Cynogale, although differing 

 structurally from the gland in those genera. In Paradoxurus 

 the glandular area passes anteriorly in front of the perineum, so 

 that the vulva lies near its centre. Nevertheless, the labia of 

 the gland, as in Arctictis, fold over behind the vulva and clitoris. 

 In Arctogalidia the external genital organs are situated quite at 

 its posterior extremity, the secreting area being in front of the 

 clitoris and the labia also folding anteriorly to it. In Nandinia 

 the gland is altogether in front of the vulva and disconnected 

 from it. Thus Nandinia and Arctictis stand at the tAVo 

 extremes. 



In the males the differences between Arctictis and Paradoxurus 

 on the one hand, and Nandinia on the other, are equally well 

 marked, but the link in the chain of gradation is wanting, 

 possibly owing to our ignorance of the gland in this sex of 

 Arctogalidia. 



Another point to consider is which of the two conditions pre- 

 sented respectively by Arctictis or Paradoxurus and Nandinia is 

 the more primitive. I incline to the opinion that the latter is 

 the derivative type ; and for this reason — the position of the 

 prepuce considerably in advance of the scrotum is the condition 

 occurring in the Canidje, Procyoniclse, and Ursidfe, which are the 

 most generalised, on the whole, of existing Carnivores. It also 

 obtains in the ^luroid Cryptoprocta. In the Pinnipedia, too, 

 the prepuce is situated a long way in advance of the anus, close 

 to which the scrotum was probably placed before its suppression. 

 On the other hand, the position of the penis just in front of the 

 scrotum is a character in which Nandinia resembles the Felidse, 

 which are regarded as the most specialised of all the Carnivora. 



The opinion above expressed can only be tentatively held, 

 Proc. Zool. Soc— 1915, No. XXIX. 29 



