1910. 



CUTANEOUS .SCE>rr-GLA\DS OV RUMIXA.VTS. 



865 



occupies the same position as the orifice of the gland in Oris ; and 

 this fact, coupled with the close resemblance that Hodgson showed 

 to exist l)etweea the glands of Capra when well developed and those 

 of the former genus, suggests that the ancestors of existing Goats 

 had glands on the fore feet, and probably also on the hind feet, 

 like those of Sheep. The feet themselves also closely resemble 

 those of Sheep. There is a deep depression between the penul- 

 timate phalanges, formed by the abrupt downward slope of the 

 integument of the upper (anterior) side to meet that of the lower 

 side at an acute angle just above the heels, forming a strong some- 

 times hoi'ny union between them. The heels are thus incapable 

 of much distension, whereas the tips and proximal portion of the 

 upper side of the hoofs can be widely separated. The heels are 



Text-fiff. 00. 



A. Median vertical section of front foot oi Hemitragus jemlaicns. 



B. The same of Capra liircus (vav. dom.) retaining aborted pedal gland (<//.)■ 



high and prominent behind. So far as the hairiness of the inter- 

 digital depression is concerned, great variation exists. In some 

 cases it is covered with longish hairs, in others it is quite naked, 

 an intermediate condition existing in othei'S. Seeing how constant 

 a specific character the hairiness of this area is in wild species of 

 Ruminants, I am at a loss to know what explanation to put upon 

 its variability in these domesticated animals, which are supposed 

 to be descended from C. cegagrus. 



Domesticated Goats have two shallow glandular pouches at the 

 base of the tail beneath, one on each side, close to the anus. I 

 have also found these in Capra cyliiidricornis and falconer i. 



Of species usually referred to Capra I have examined the fol- 

 lowing specnnens, in addition to the domesticated examples alluded 



