THE GLANDS. 257 
large species of deer — the Moose 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 néar 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 
