The Descent of Man

necessarily confined to the male, and forms an
additional scent-organ. It is a singular fact that
the matter secreted by this latter gland, does
not, according to Pallas, change in consistence,
or increase in quantity, during the ruttingseason;
nevertheless this naturalist admits that
its presence is in some way connected with the
act of reproduction. He gives, however, only a
conjectural and unsatisfactory explanation of its
use. (12. Pallas, 'Spicilegia Zoolog.' fasc. xiii.
1799, p. 24; Desmoulins, 'Dict. Class. d'Hist.
Nat.' tom. iii. p. 586.)
In most cases, when only the male emits a
strong odour during the breeding- season, it
probably serves to excite or allure the female.
We must not judge on this head by our own
taste, for it is well known that rats are enticed
by certain essential oils, and cats by valerian,
substances far from agreeable to us; and that
dogs, though they will not eat carrion, sniff and
roll on it. From the reasons given when discus-