884 



ANATOMY AND DEVELOPMENT OP MAR&UPIALIA, 



obliterated. A section in this region is shown in Fig. 11, wliere- 

 the obliteration of the canals can be well seen. In Fig. 12, the- 

 portion of tiie urogenital sinus into which the lateral vaginal 

 canals would open in their functioning condition, is shown. Its 

 irregular and torn shape will at once be noted. It should be 

 compared with Fig. 6, showing an exactly similar section of the 

 urogenital sinus of the embryo. The urogenital sinus is extremely 

 long, measuring 42 mm. in length. It opens into the cloaca on 

 the ventral side. The clitoris is bifid at the extremity, and 

 attached throughout nearly its whole length. 



The cloaca is a large, well marked chamber. A pair of anal 

 glands is present 



Fig. 11. 



Fig. 12. 



Parturition . — The arrangement of the urogenital organs 

 in Sarcophilus points to the fact that parturition occurs through 

 the medium of a direct median passage which is only temporary, 

 but the track of which is shown by the elongated mass of deeply 

 staining, connective tissue situated axially in the persistent 

 genital cord. Throughout the greater part of its extent, the 

 passage becomes obliterated, but here and there the traces of it 

 can be seen; and, at the posterior end, the obliterated remains of 

 the lateral vaginal canals come into relation with the urogenital 

 sinus, along a long, dorsally situated, deep fissure which, in my 

 opinion, is undoubtedly caused by the breaking of the embryos 



