THE GLANDS. 257 



large species of deer — the INIoose and the Caribou. The extent 

 of the tarsal gland on the Moose is less than is the metatarsal 

 gland on the Wapiti, while the latter is something less in relative 

 extent than the tarsal gland on the Caribou, which is a smaller 

 animal than our elk while the Moose is larger. We might infer 

 from this, that with the advancement in size the demand in the 

 animal economy for this glandular system is less urgent, and 

 with the decrease of this demand the glands themselves are grad- 

 ually disappearing, and in the process of time may finally become 

 extinct altogether. 



But here we are met with the fact that the smallest of our 

 species as well as the largest, is also without the metatarsal 

 gland, which is not compensated by an increased development of 

 the tarsal gland, so that at last we may not be at liberty to at- 

 tribute the disappearance of these glands to the increased size of 

 the species. But my object is to state impartially observed and 

 well authenticated facts, rather than to speculate upon them or to 

 deduce or sustain theories from them. 



On the other extreme of development of the metatarsal gland 

 is the Mule Deer (Fig. 5, p. 258), which animal is next in size 

 to the woodland caribou, on which as we have seen it is entirely 

 wanting. 



On the inside of the hock of this deer the tuft of hair cover- 

 ing the tarsal gland is larger than on any of the preceding, is of 

 pear shaped form, and occupies a vertical position with the small 

 end uppermost. Like the others it is composed of long, elevated 

 hairs, those on the top being the longest and finding their seat at 

 or near the upper point and descending to the abrupt lower end. 

 In color, the; tuft on the surface is of a lightish tawny yellow, but 

 upon opening it appears black within. When examined separ- 

 ately the hairs are found to be from an inch and six lines to an 

 inch and nine lines long. . For one quarter of their length, at 

 their upper ends, they are of the tawny yellow shade stated, 

 and the lower three quarters black, less intense towards the 

 lower ends. A few white hairs are found among them. When 

 the animal is excited this tuft is raised up and spreads out like 

 a fan, when the dark shade below overpowers the lighter shade 

 of the ends, and the whole tuft appears black. 



The metatarsal gland is situate on the outside and near the 

 posterior edge of the metatarsus. The tuft of hairs covering 

 and overlaying the gland commence just below the tarsus, and 

 extends down the leg eight inches, and is in width about one inch 



17 



