iad 
570 DR. J. MURIE ON THE ANATOMY OF THE SEA-LION. 
preputial fold of skin continuous with the sheath is dark-coloured and much wrinkled, 
both circularly and longitudinally, the latter cuticular furrows being remarkably small. 
‘The prepuce is attached 14 inch behind the urethral orifice. The glans penis at its 
thinner hinder end has dark-coloured mucous membrane; but the bulbous terminal front 
is more florid. The truncate extremity of the glans is oval, the long diameter vertical, 
and the lower end the narrowest part. The somewhat prominent distal end of the bone 
is covered by a layer of mucous membrane, between which and the outer glans there 
is a shallow furrow. 
‘The os penis, a strong bone, is altogether 4 inches long, but in the present example of 
Otaria angularly bent; suffice it to say that in other examples of the genus the os penis 
is more or less straight. The posterior extremity of the bone is thickest, the remainder 
forwards to the glans penis roundish, and about 0-2 inch in diameter. At the distal end 
it terminates abruptly in a vertically extended and laterally compressed truncation. 
Strange to relate, the animal during life had the misfortune to sustain a fracture 
of the penis, though the exact nature of the injury was only revealed after death. 
Either just before or immediately after the Ofaria came into the possession of the 
Society it was observed that the point of the penis protruded continuously through 
the membranous sheath which usually encloses it. With this constant supposed partial 
erection the glans and foreskin were inflamed and in a raw state. The tumidity &c. of 
the parts suggested the probability of phymosis; and it was proposed to alleviate the 
malady by topical treatment, or operation if need were. Neither, however, was very 
feasible ; and as the swelling gradually subsided, no further active measures were taken. 
Time brought about a cessation of all bad symptoms; but the glans penis was never after- 
wards withdrawn within the sheath. At last it became leather-like and callous from 
the continual rubbings it was subjected to as the animal walked and scrambled about 
in its rough gravelly enclosure. On dissection of the body it was discovered that the 
os penis was broken exactly in its middle. ‘The bones had firmly united in the form of 
an arch or obtuse angle; that portion of the external limb of the arch within the glans 
could necessarily never be withdrawn within the sheath. In the delineation of the 
organs of generation (Pl. LX XXII. fig. 73) this most remarkable piece of nature’s surgery 
is shown, the asterisk pointing to the apex of the angle or seat of fracture. In the 
figure in question the relative positions of the bladder, urethra, and penis are, of course, 
altered from that which they had in the living animal; notwithstanding, the amount of 
bending in the bone is thoroughly appreciable. 
b. Muscles of the Genitals and Anus.—The retractors of the penis are two long, narrow, 
riband-like muscles, which have origin among the fleshy fasciculi of the internal 
sphincter and levator ani muscles anterior to the rectum. ‘The retractors pursue a 
parallel course along and under the surface of the penis, and are inserted into the 
tissues connected with the prepuce. 
The membranous portion of the urethra has a thin layer of transversely striped mus- 
