THE GLANDS. 2G3 



a means of dividing the genus, that domestication or confine- 

 ment tends to diminish the size of these tufts. Fi'om this sug- 

 gestion I have been led to carefully look for such effect under 

 the conditions suggested, but I have been unable to detect any 

 difference in the size of these tufts, on the wild animals and 

 those reared in parks or kept in close confinement. 



While on each of the separate species the tarsal gland and the 

 tuft of hairs covering it, is not so marked in its distinctive char- 

 acteristics, except indeed upon the moose, yet there is quite 

 a plain difference between those found on any one species and 

 those on either of the others. The fact that they are just alike 

 on each individual of either species, renders these marks of great 

 value, and justifies a cai'eful study of each so as to clearly appre- 

 ciate differences between those found on the different species. 



There is another set of glands, which, though not found on all 

 of the species, are constant on some, and would seem to be usual, 

 to say the least, on others. These are interdigital glands, and 

 like the others of which I have treated, are conglomerate and 

 dermal. They are situated between the upper phalangeal bones. 

 They are in the form of small sacks opening anteriorly. On 

 some species they are larger in diameter and in depth, propor- 

 tionally, than on others, and in a given species they vary accord- 

 ing to the size of the animal, as do the other glands treated of. 

 All have more or less hairs growing within the sack, and they 

 vary considerably in their activity. On the more active ones, at 

 least, when dissected out from the recently killed animal and ex- 

 amined on the flesh side, they seem to be literally covered with 

 ducts or divided into lobules readily distinguished by the naked 

 eye. 



So far as I have been able to make a personal examination I 

 have found them the most extensive in the smallest species, the 

 little Acapulco Deej". On a fnlly adult doe I find the sack to 

 be about one inch in depth and five lines in diameter. The sack 

 contains a limited amount of hairs and a considerable amount of 

 secreted matter which has a pungent, disagreeable, musky odor. 

 I find it on all the feet in all the specimens I have had an oppor- 

 tunity to examine, and all substantially corresponding to the 

 above description, only on smaller specimens it is proportionally 

 less. About the same may be stated of the Ceylon Deer. 



Of the Virginia Deer I have examined great numbers for this 

 gland. It is always present in all the feet. It is about the 

 same size in both sexes. On a medium sized animal it is fully 



