ZOOLOGICAL POSITION AND STRUCTURE 19 



above the hoofs. The orifice leads into a narrow 

 duct which quickly but gradually expands into the 

 gland. The latter descends along the interungual 

 integument [ie. the skin between the hoofs] to- 

 wards the heel, then turns sharply upwards and 

 backwards upon itself for a short distance along 

 the integument of the back of the pastern. 



" The gland is lined with short hairs, and the 

 secretion is a clear semi-fluid substance with a 

 pleasant scent like toffee, slightly infused with 

 acetic acid." 



The secretion of these foot-glands, by scenting 

 the ground or herbage over which sheep have 

 passed, aids, doubtless, in enabling the members of 

 a scattered flock to ascertain the whereabouts of 

 their fellows. The unpleasant smell of domesti- 

 cated sheep, so different to the sweet aroma of 

 cattle and many kinds of antelopes, may be in part 

 due to the secretion of these glands. 



Sheep also differ from cattle in that there are 

 usually only two (in place of four) teats to the 

 udders of the ewes, although occasionally a supple- 

 mental pair may be developed. 



The skull of a sheep differs markedly from that 

 of an ox in the much greater degree in which the 

 face is bent down at an angle to the portion enclosing 

 the brain, thereby giving rise to a prominent ridge 

 above the sockets of the eyes, from either side 

 of which the planes of the parietal (p) and frontal 



