378 DR. WATSON ON THE ANATOMY OF HY^NA 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 de- 

 ciding as to the sex in this species. The theory of the ancients re- 

 garding 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 regard- 

 ing 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 en- 

 tirely 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 ob- 

 servation 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. cro- 

 cuta, 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 caecum, and mode of branching of the 

 aorta, in H. crocuta are exactly the same as has been described by 

 Daubenton in H. striata, aud by Murie in H. brunnea. 



In conclusion, I have to state that my best thanks are due to ray 

 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 Hyana crocuta. From above 

 downwards are seen tlie orifice of the anus, as well as of the anal- 

 gland pouch ; below this is the pair of elevations referred to under 



i 



