Feminescence, and Rejuvenescence. 275 



of the voice was nearly as common ; the growth of spurs, combs, 

 &c. is reported in more than one case. These changes began 

 after the bird had ceased to lay eggs, and became more marked 

 as it grew older. In some instances the transformation was so 

 complete, that not only was it difficult to make a distinction 

 between the real and the assumed sex, but the difficulty was 

 scarcely less for birds of the same species ; especially as the de- 

 ception was increased by the masculine behaviour of the trans- 

 formed birds. In a few cases, eggs were detected in the ovary ; 

 and, in a large proportion of instances, the parts of generation 

 were found partially or entirely wasted away. 



In mammalia, the signs of virilescence are neither of so fre- 

 quent occurrence nor so strongly marked as in birds; and 

 hitherto they have been seen only in the stag and roe. The 

 male of these animals, as is well known, is distinguished by 

 horns, of which there is no trace in the female. These parts 

 make their first appearance with the first complete development 

 of the organs of generation ; fall off annually, at the conclusion 

 of one rutting season ; and are again reproduced, in a more 

 perfect form, at the beginning of the next. Virilescence con- 

 sists chiefly in the growth of these parts in the female : it shews 

 itself, however, occasionally in other parts ; for instance, in the 

 hair. More than one of these changes have been seen in the 

 same animal. In some instances both horns were produced ; 

 in others only one, and that usually on the right side. Two in- 

 stances only are adduced in which the phenomena of virilescence 

 showed themselves in the hair of the animal. In one case, the 

 hair of the head, neck, and abdomen, the shape of the ears and 

 extremities, and the odour of the animal, gave it the closest 

 possible resemblance to the male, and it followed the other fe- 

 males as if urged by sexual desire. Valmont de Bomare has 

 described an animal which had one horn on the left side, and 

 organs of generation closely resembling those of the male ; the 

 ovaries hung down like testicles, the clitoris was elongated, and 

 the vagina contracted. In three instances, the animals were in 

 calf The case quoted from Valmont de Bomare is the only 

 one in which the parts of generation underwent those changes 

 which take place so frequently in birds. The statement that 

 horns have made their appearance on the heads of animals 



