8 LÖNNBERG, ON THE FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS OF CRYPTOPROCTA. 



distal portion is narrower than the swollen basal or proximal 

 portion. It is corapressed from the sides so that the distal 

 half is 2 mm. thick in the transversal, but 3 mm. in the an- 

 teroposterior direction. Basally the same measurements are 

 resp. 3 mm. and 4\ 2 mm. The distal portion is straight, the 

 basal portion is somewhat curved, the posterior outline being 

 a little concave, and the posterior, thanks to the thickening, 

 still more convex. The ossicle is imbedded in erectile tissue 

 and situated close to the posterior side of the clitoris just 

 beneath the prolongation of the urethral groove which, as is 

 described above, extends all the way to the clitoris. At its 

 proximal end it is continued by a thick and strong corpus fi- 

 hrosiim (fig. 5 c f.) which extends from the pelvis and in the 

 present state has a length of nearly 3 cm. When cut across 

 it proves itself to consist of a thick fibro-elastic sheath in- 

 cluding the cavernous tissue. At the base where it is fixed 

 to the pelvis it is somewhat expanded towards the sides 

 which indicates the double origin of the crura clitoridis which, 

 however, at once get fused into one body. There is, as can 

 be stated on the figure, no externally visible limit between 

 this strong corxms fihrosum and the ossicle, but the limit 

 between them may be found b}^ piuching with a pair of 

 pincers. 



It is evident that this peculiarly strong development of 

 the clitoris and its difPerent parts must be of great impor- 

 tance in the act of pairing and I think its funetion may be 

 explained in the following manner. From the description 

 above it may be evident that in its normal position the uro- 

 genital canal is bent in a right angle and that the opening 

 is directed quite downwards. An insertion of the male organ 

 of copulation might in such a case be regarded as impossible, 

 and even if it could be admitted somewhat, the semen could 

 not very well pass the sharp angular bend and reach the 

 uterus. But if the large corpus fibrosum is erected, it together 

 with the ossicle of the clitoris, becomes a stifF rod which is 

 able of directing the genital opening more backwards and 

 thus of straightening the urogenital canal in such a manner 

 that the coition is made as well possible as effective. 



The exteriör view of the genital organs and their surroun- 

 dings remind one of the same in Hycena crocuta as Filhol 

 already has observed. This external likeness becomes still 



