46 



STRUCTURE OF THE SHEEP 



Sheep are different from any other class of animals belonging 

 to the family Bovidw in that they possess suborbital face glands, 

 and glands in the groin and between the two main toes of the feet. 

 All of these secrete sebaceous or fatty substances. The suborbital 

 face gland is situated in a shallow depression called the lachrymal 

 pit in the lachrymal bone of the skull. In the live animal its location 

 is indicated by a furrow in the skin extending downward from the 

 inner corner of the eye (Fig. 16). 



Fig. 16. — Furrow in skin over lachrymal pit. 



The secretion from the foot-gland or interdigital pouch is car- 

 ried to the surface of the skin through a small duct called the inter- 

 digital canal, the round opening of which is to be found near the 

 top of the triangular depression on the front of the pastern, a little 

 above the hoof (Fig. 17). This opening is large enough to be 

 seen easily with the naked eye and is often referred to by sheepmen 

 as the hole in the foot. 



Different functions have been ascribed to the foot glands. It is 

 thought by some that they secrete a substance that scents the groimd 



