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Show 378 DR. WATSON ON THE ANATOMY OF HYANA CROCUTA. [May 1, animal examined by me were both of opinion that it was a male, but acknowledged that they had very great difficulty at any time in deciding as to the sex in this species. The theory of the ancients regarding their sexual peculiarities, moreover, obtains in a popular form at the present day, as I have it on the authority of a gentleman who resided for some time in South Africa that the Dutch hunters in that region are still of the same opinion. For my own part, I see no reason to doubt that, just as under many popular ideas there lies an element of truth, so beneath the extraordinary belief regarding the sexual relations of these animals a physiological fact may be concealed. There may be some truth in the assertion by the South-African hunters, and which I give on the authority of the gentleman above referred to, that two individuals of the same sex have been seen to couple. There appears to me to be nothing in the arrangement of the parts to prevent two females in indulging in what to both may afford sexual gratification. It is not impossible that an organ of the size of the clitoris in these animals, almost entirely composed of erectile tissue, and richly supplied with blood, may afford the means of sexual gratification to two individuals of the same sex, especially during the period of rut, It is a matter of daily observation that among animals during the period of heat the mere contact of individuals of the same sex affords pleasure ; and if this contact, by reason of the anatomical arrangement of the parts, be permitted to be more complete, as is apparently the case in H. crocuta, I see no reason to doubt that occurrences of this kind, taken in conjunction with the difficulty of distinguishing the sexes, may have led to the foundation of the hermaphroditic theory with reference to these animals. It would not be uninteresting, in connexion with the arrangement of the urino-genital canal perforating, as it does, the clitoris, to know somewhat regarding the condition and size of the young at birth. The canal itself is dilatable enough ; but the opening at the extremity of the glans scarcely appears sufficiently roomy to allow of the passage of young of such size as, judging from those of other animals at the same period, those of H. crocuta must be. The mode of coupling of these animals also is worthy of observation, as, from what has been stated, it will be seen that the arrangement of the parts is not such as to facilitate this act. The form and size of the ceecum, and mode of branching of the aorta, in H. crocuta are exactly the same as has been described by Daubenton in H. striata, and by Murie in H. brunnea. In conclusion, I have to state that m y best thanks are due to my friend Dr. Alfred Young for the very excellent drawings which accompany this paper. EXPLANATION OF PLATES XL. & XLI. PLATE XL. View of the female perineum and clitoris of Hycena crocuta. From above downwards are seen the orifice of the anus, as well as of the anal-gland pouch; below this is the pair of elevations referred to under |