DE. J. MURIE OX 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 entii-ely 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 ofiered. 



VII. The Ueino-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 supraienal glands diflFer 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. The 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 kidney. From this latter it is distant l^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 



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