DR. J. MURIE ON HYENA BRUNNEA. 505 
umbilicus. Their tips and superficial portions of the inner sides are bare, the remaining 
outer three-quarters of their circumference being set with light-coloured longish hairs. 
Each of these labial prominences has a diameter of about three-quarters of an inch 
and a height equal to half an inch. When the hind limbs are brought together, the 
labial elevations approximate, and almost touch one another on their inner bare edges ; 
but when the limbs are thrown apart, there is an interval of as much as an inch between 
them. In the median interspace there is a slight sulcus ; and from their anterior margins 
backwards to, and for half an inch around the vulva, the skin is nearly devoid of hairs, 
and assumes a dark, blackish-brown colour. It is also considerably puckered into 
minute folds, or ridges, which possess a slight punctate glandular surface. 
The slit-shaped opening of the vulva, which itself is seven-eighths of an inch in length, 
and with the urethral outlet placed in its anterior angle, lies an inch behind the above- 
mentioned elevated labia majora. 
The shortened and but faintly marked perineum is scarcely more than an inch long, 
and, except a narrow central band or indistinct raphe, is covered with somewhat long 
lightish brown or yellowish hairs. 
The anus is situated immediately behind this; and in the examination of our animal 
shortly after death, the terminal portion of the anal mucous membrane appeared to 
bulge rather prominently, so as to present three or four carunculated and extruded 
folds, altogether an inch in diameter. These might be justly compared to the abnormal 
condition of this part in man when suffering from external hemorrhoids. On inquiring 
of the keeper regarding this appearance of detrusion of the anus, he replied that it 
seldom if ever had been visible to him while the animal was alive. 
The anal pouch appears superficially as a large and deep semilunar fossa, having its 
concavity forwards and the lateral horns embracing the anus itself, which lies before it. 
The pouch and anus together form what at first sight might be considered the anal 
opening alone. This somewhat circular-shaped and common superficial depression 
ranges from 1-7 to 1:5 inch in diameter, the greater measurement being antero-poste- 
riorly. ‘The cross distance between the horns of the postanal fossa is 1-2 inch; and in 
an opposite diameter (namely, towards the tail) the fossa is 0°3 inch wide. The elevated 
bridge of hairy skin between the posterior edge of the anal pouch and the root of the 
tail is scarcely so much as an inch. 
The anal excavation has an average depth of a couple of inches, though one portion 
is sunk or burrows deeper beneath the protruding anus. Interiorly the entire pouch 
accommodates itself to the shape of the deep parts, with a somewhat similar configuration 
to that which it possesses externally—to wit, with curved extension on either side of the 
anus. Each horn of itself forms a widish chamber or passage; and this leads to what, 
on rough examination, seem three narrow culs-de-sac. ‘These, however, are continued 
by small orifices into as many glandular pockets situate outside the lower part of the 
rectum. The said flask-shaped pouches are internally smooth-surfaced, though their 
