The baculum in microtines consists of an elongate stalk, having a
laterally, and to a lesser extent dorsoventrally, expanded base and an
attenuate distal shaft. Usually, three digitate processes of
cartilaginous material in which additional ossifications may occur arise
from the terminus of the shaft. The proportions and curvature of the
stalk vary as do the proportions of the terminal ossifications to each
other and to the stalk. In some species one or more of the digital
processes are frequently completely unossified.
[Illustration: FIGURE 1. The baculum in _Microtus
ochrogaster_--orientation and variation with age. _a._ Diagram of a
sagittal section of the posterior half of a vole, natural size. The
penis, containing the baculum (in black), extends ventrally from a point
posterior to the pubic symphysis (stippled), along the body wall, and
bends posteriorly at the distal end. _b._ Distal end of penis (× 2)
showing baculum (in black), the urethra (solid lines) adjacent to the
baculum, and the corpus cavernosum (broken lines) proximal to the
baculum. _c._ Oblique view of the cross section of penis (× 4) shown in
Figure 1 _b_. The thick-walled urethra lies ventral to the curved corpus
cavernosum. A thinner-walled blood-vessel lies dorsal to the corpus
cavernosum. The anatomically ventral side of the baculum, in the normal
non-erect penis shown, is seen to face dorsally. _d._ Graph showing the
relationship between size of baculum, size of animal, and development of
digital ossifications. Circles show presence of ossification in stalk
only; circles enclosing dots indicate presence of secondary ossification
in median process also; large dots indicate the addition of tertiary
ossification in one or both of the lateral digitate processes.]
Preserved specimens of _Microtus arvalis_, _Microtus agrestis_, _Microtus
orcadensis_, _Microtus nivalis_, _Microtus guentheri_, _Microtus
subterraneus_, _Clethrionomys glareolus_, and _Ellobius lutescens_ were
provided by Prof. Robert Matthey of Lausanne, Switzerland. J. Knox Jones,
Jr. carefully saved the bacula with specimens of _Microtus fortis_ and
_Clethrionomys rufocanus_ from Korea. Dr. W. B. Quay, Department of
Zoology, University of California, supplied specimens of _Synaptomys
cooperi_, _Phenacomys intermedius_, and _Microtus oregoni_. Dr. Franklin
Sturges and Mr. John W. Goertz, Museum of Natural History, Oregon State
College, Corvallis, have provided specimens including bacula of
_Clethrionomys occidentalis_, _Microtus oregoni_, and _Microtus
townsendii_. Dr. Randolph L. Peterson and Mr. Bristol Foster, Royal
Ontario Museum of Zoology, Toronto, Canada, provided specimens of
_Phenacomys intermedius_. Dr. J. N. Layne, University of Florida,
Gainsville, Florida, presented me with a baculum of _Microtus parvulus_.
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