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Show 1878.] GENERATIVE ORGANS OF HYiENA CROCUTA. 417 recurved spines, which diminish in size toward the margin of the prepuce and are altogether absent on its free corrugated portion. The urethral aperture is smaller and less dilatable than the corresponding opening in the female. The prepuce, consisting of a thick double fold of integument of a bluish colour externally and flesh-coloured internally, is thrown into well-marked circular rugae and is attached by a distinct freenum to the under surface of the base of the glans. When retracted it is continuous with the surface of the latter. In the female the frsenum is attached, not to the base of the glans, but to the inferior lip of the urino-genital canal. Perineum.-The perineum, from the inferior border of the scrotum to the base of the free portion of the penis, measures 4 inches in length, a measurement which agrees exactly with that of the corresponding region of the female. The integument, like that of the prepuce is of a bluish colour, smooth, and devoid of hair with the exception of a space immediately behind the free portion of the penis, which space is covered with down of a light yellowish colour, the hairs being directed forwards. It is worthy of note that this area in the male corresponds exactly with that which in the female is studded with the little depressions described in my paper on the genital organs of that sex. And here I would take the opportunity of correcting an error into which I unwittingly fell in that paper. I refer to the statement contained therein that the integument of the female perineum is thrown into longitudinal rugee. These, as the accompanying drawing shows, are altogether absent in the male in the recent state of the parts, and only manifest themselves subsequent to their immersion in alcohol. As the female organs had been subjected to this treatment previous to their examination, I have little doubt that in their natural condition these parts present the uniformly smooth appearance I have just described in the male animal. The presence of these folds in the female, moreover, induced me to hazard the conjecture that they might represent in H. crocuta the labia of other carnivora. This supposition is now no longer tenable, as the examination of the male perineum has led me to conclude that the homologues of the labia are not to be sought in the longitudinal perineal folds just referred to, but rather in the cutaneous elevations described in m y former paper under the name of " scrotal pouches." Scrotum.-The scrotum is non-pendulous, and resembles that of the Felidee proper. It is situated one inch below the margin of the anus ; and its division into two is indicated externally by a shallow groove. Each half is about the size of a small walnut; and the surface of each is covered with hair of a light brown colour. It is interesting to observe that this description corresponds almost exactly with that of the so-called " scrotal pouches " of the other sex, the only difference being that in the male the scrotum is slightly more prominent than the " scrotal pouches " of the female. Anus and Anal-gland Pouch.-The anus is situated one inch above the scrotum ; and between the former and the root of the tail is a pouch similar to that which is found in the female. The interior of the pouch is smooth and devoid of hair, except the roof, which is PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1878, No. XXVII. 27 |