796 ON THE UROGENITAL ORGANS OF THE KANGAROO, 



as shown for instance by the occurrence of several epiphytal 

 Orchids ; whereas even in equal isothermal zones none are 

 represented by equivalent exponents in the whole flora of Europe 

 anywhere. 



On the existence AFTER parturition of a direct communica- 

 tion BETWEEN THE MEDIAN VAGINAL CUL-DE-SAC SO-CALLED, 



and the urogenital canal, in certain species 

 of Kangaroos. 



By J. J. Fletcher, M.A. (Syd.), B.Sc (Lond.). 



I. Introductory. 



" In the Marsupialia the female organs consist of two ovaries, 

 two oviducts or fallopian tubes, two uteri, two vaginae, an 

 urogenital canal, and a clitoris " (Owen). While the presence 

 of two vaginae is constant throughout the group, there is con- 

 siderable variation in the relation of the two vaginae to one another. 

 Thus, again quoting from Vol. III. of Prof. Owen's Comparative 

 Anatomy, " in Didelphis dorsigera, each vaginal tube after 

 embracing the os tincse is immediately continued upwards and 

 outwards, then bends downward and inward, and after a second 

 bend upward, descends by the side of the opposite tube to terminate 

 parallel with the urethra, in the common or urogenital passage. 

 In Petaurus the vaginae * * * descend close together half-way 

 toward the urogenital passage, and there terminate blindly without 

 intercommunication. From the upper part of these culs-de-sac 

 the vaginae are continued upward and outward, forming a curve, 

 like the handles of a vase, then descend, converge, and terminate 

 close together as in the preceding example. In Dasyurus 

 vivverinus, and Didelphis virginiana the mesial culs-de-sac of the 

 vaginae descend to the urogenital passage, and are connected to 

 it, but do not communicate with it or with one another. In the 



