322 ON THE CALIFORNIAN SEA-LION. 



The kidneys are compound, and are composed of about forty quite 

 distinct papillae, in each of which the cortical and medullary parts are as 

 distinct as in Murie's beautiful figure of the same organs in Otaria jubata 

 (I. c. pi. Ixxxi. fig. 70). 



The male generative organs have been preserved as a preparation in 

 the College of Surgeons; so I have not been able to examine them 

 thoroughly. The testes, as already stated, did not lie in any distinct 

 pedunculated scrotum, but were situated in the groin, close to the naked 

 skin round the anus. There is apparently a small prostate, like that in 

 0. jubata (I. c. pi. Ixxxii. fig. 73) ; but both vesiculce seminales and 

 Cowper's glands are absent. The penis (PI. XI. fig. 3) has a large os, 

 which is bifurcated at the apex. This bone in the glans is only covered 

 by a thin coating of pale mucous membrane, which is continued also onto 

 the prepuce. The length of the glans, from the reflected prepuce to the 

 T. Z. S. 1882, apex, is 2*8 inches ; the notch between the superior and inferior ends of 

 ad. p. 231. t^ bif urc ated os is slightly filled up by the coating of mucous membrane, 

 the urethra opening just behind the lower end of the os, on the inferior 

 aspect of the glans. About an inch from the apex of the penis the 

 mucous membrane is developed into a sort of reflected corona of loose 

 skin ; if this is expanded it forms on each side a sort of triangular flap, 

 attached dorsally and ventrally to the median lines of the penis (vide 

 fig. 3 a, PL XI.). This description differs in several particulars from that 

 given by Dr. Murie ; but his specimen had sustained a fracture of the 

 penis, and consequent damage to the glans, so that the decrepancies of 

 the two may be due to accidental causes. 



Until examples of other species and more specimens of these animals 

 have been dissected, it will be impossible to say how much taxonomic 

 importance ought to be attached to certain differences between Otaria 

 jubata and 0. gillespii, indicated in the present communication ; but at 

 present the anatomical evidence seems to be in favour of retaining the two 

 forms under a common generic title, as is here done. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 

 PLATE IX. 



Fig. 1. c? Otaria gillespii, from the specimen lately in the Southport Aquarium 



(coat dry). 



2. $ Otaria gillespii, from the specimen formerly living hi the Brighton Aquarium 

 (coat wet). 



PLATE X. 

 Head of <$ Otaria gillespii ; natural size. 



PLATE XI. 

 Fig. 1. Pectoral fin of 0. gillespii'. natural size. 



2. Pelvic fin of 0. gillespii : % natural size. 



3. Glans penis of 0. gillespii : about natural size. 

 3 a. The same, viewed from the front. 



