Zoological Society. 



227 



be derived from the crumens and other glands, or certain pits or 

 sinuses which open externally, especially in different parts of the 

 head in ruminating animals. The most remarkable, as well as the 

 most common of these are the suborbital, sometimes called the la- 

 chrymal sinuses, or tear-pits, but which Mr. Ogilby distinguishes by 

 the name of crumens, a term applied to them by Dr. Flemming. 

 These are situated at a short distance below the inner canthus of the 

 eye, and received into a cavity of the lachrymal bone ; at their bot- 

 tom is a gland, opening into the crumen by a number of small aper- 

 tures, and secreting a viscous substance, of the consistence of ear-wax. 

 The various modifications of the form of these crumens in different 

 Ruminants being pointed out in the paper, the author proceeds to 

 the consideration of their functions and uses : he observed that the 

 Gazelles and Antelopes in the Society's menagerie frequently pro- 

 truded this crumen, and rubbed its inner surface against the rails of 

 the compartments in which they were confined, seeming to take a 

 pleasure in smelling and licking it afterwards. A male and female 

 Gazelle, occupying contiguous compartments, were changed, and 

 it was found that they immediately discovered the viscous deposit, 

 and became restless and agitated ; the male Gazelle was some days 

 after made to change places with an Indian Antelope, but neither 

 animal appeared to take the slightest notice, or to be aware of the 

 presence of its predecessor. " This, to be sure," says Mr. Ogilby, 

 " is but a single experiment, but it countenances the idea, highly pro- 

 bable in itself, that the deposit which the animals leave behind them 

 by rubbing the crumens against the shrubs or stones of their desert 

 and mountain habitats, (for it is only the inhabitants of such locali- 

 ties that are furnished with these organs, at least among the hollow- 

 horned family,) may serve to direct them in their wanderings and 

 migrations, when the storms and fogs incident to such places obscure 

 all visible landmarks. But whatever it may be, the principles of 

 sound philosophy and the great doctrine of design forbid us to en- 

 tertain the notion that so remarkable an organ has been formed with 

 out some special and appropriate function in animal oeconomy." 



A superficial slit, situated in a depression of the maxillary bone, 

 on either side, called by the author the maxillary sinus, is found in 

 certain Ruminants hitherto classed among the Antelopes ; its secre- 

 tion is of a thin watery consistence, and thus differs from the secre- 

 tion of the crumens. The situation of these glands, and their pecu- 

 liar secretion, induces the author to regard them as distinct organs, 

 and he doubts their coexistence with the crumens, though M. F. 

 Cuvier and Colonel Smith have reported such sometimes to be the 

 case. 



The membranous sac which opens behind the ear of the Chamois, 

 and the large gland which Mr. Hodgson describes in the nose of the 

 Chiru, are of too partial occurrence to be made available in generic 

 characters ; there are, however, two large and deep sacs, situated 

 one on each side of the udder, which are of pretty general occurrence, 

 but their function does not appear to exercise sufficient influence 

 over the animal ceconomy to entitle them to be considered among the 



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