DR. J. MURIE ON THE ANATOMY OF THE SEA-LION. 567 
the same form, but without the lower curvature, which is replaced by a separate small 
kidney-shaped gland. 
The surface of the mesenteric glands is traversed by innumerable parallel close-set 
white lines. These are chiefly lacteal vessels, but they also have nervous filaments 
intermingled. Some of these lacteals appear to cross the gland entirely and pass up 
towards the pancreas ; but the greater number are derived from the mesenteric glands, 
and they follow the course of the arteries and veins. 
Pancreas.—Whilst injecting the vessels of the abdomen with a composition chiefly 
of size and colouring-matter, it was observed that the pancreas became very much 
distended, but did not acquire the red tinge of the material employed. This was 
caused by an infiltration of the uncoloured fluid into the tissues of this organ, whereas 
the thicker colour was retained in the vessels. As a consequence the dimensions, 
relations, &c. of the gland were altered, so that no approximation to the truth can 
be offered. 
VII. Tue UrtNo-GENERATIVE SYSTEM. 
1. The Renal Viscera. 
a. Suprarenal Capsules.—These bodies have a position not uncommon among Car- 
nivorous families—that is, in their non-adherence to the upper ends of the kidneys, but 
lying to their inner side and considerably apart from them. In the species of Otaria 
under consideration the supravenal glands differ individually in shape and in their 
precise situation; but they agree in both being flattened, smooth-surfaced, and mode- 
rate-sized. The right suprarenal body is somewhat tongue-shaped, its right end, 
however, being expanded downwards so that the lower or posterior border is slightly 
concave. Its left end is continuous with and partly lies upon the very much dilated 
ascending vena cava. ‘he left suprarenal gland is smaller-sized and trihedral in 
contour. Its inner border rests upon the left emulgent or renal vein, the narrower 
outer extremity pointing to the left kiduey. From this latter it is distant 1} inch, 
being somewhat nearer to the abdominal aorta and ascending vena cava than to the 
kidney itself. When divided, the interior of each suprarenal capsule appears to 
consist of a uniform, soft, finely glandular substance of a pale yellowish hue. ‘There 
is no central cavity, nor division into cortical and medullary parts, as is the case in Man 
and some Mammals. 
b. Kidneys.—The most marked feature, as regards the position of these secreting 
glands in the Sea-lion, is their comparative looseness or partial freedom. Thus they 
are not firmly bound down by a closely adherent investment of fascia to the posterior 
wall of the iliac region, as occurs in many Mammals; but as in the Seals gener- 
ally, and to some extent also in certain other families of the Carnivora, they are 
somewhat free or loosely pedunculate. Both kidneys are nearly uniform in size, 
4-7 inches long and averaging 2°3 inches broad. Each is of an elongate, slightly 
412 
