suhmaxillary odoriferous gland in the genus Crocodilus. 135 
found to be lined with a soft, light-coloured, secreting 
membrane. 
The most remarkable part of this apparatus remains to be 
described. The gland is enveloped by extremely fine delicate 
muscular fibres, disposed in an oblique or spiral direction, 
and consisting of two fasciculi, one of which passes over, and 
the other underneath the gland, each partially surrounding 
it, whilst a few fibres are spread on the cellular tissue and 
skin, to which the gland is thus slightly attached. At the 
base of the gland the fibres converge, and form a long, 
slender, round muscle, which after making a slight curve 
forwards, proceeds directly back to the cornu of the os 
hyo'ides, to which it is closely united. Throughout the 
greater part of its length it follows the course of a muscle 
apparently identical with the mylo-hyoideus in the mammifera, 
lying in contact with its anterior edge. 
The use of the singular muscle I have described, appears 
to be twofold. It is obvious that the oblique position of the 
gland in a state of rest must prevent, or at least greatly 
impede the free passage of the secretion from the interior ; 
but the longitudinal contraction of the muscle would tend to 
draw the base of the gland backwards and inwards, and 
having thus brought its axis in a direct line with the opening, 
would facilitate the exit of the musk ; whilst, by the action 
of the fibres which surround the fundus of the gland, that 
organ would itself be compressed, and the secretion forced 
through the opening at the will of the animal. 
When the situation of this gland is compared with that of 
other odoriferous glands occurring in various tribes of ani¬ 
mals, so remarkable a discrepancy in this respect necessarily 
