OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 57 



according to the distance of the kidneys from the anus, are 

 of considerable size, longitudinally plaited on their inner 

 surface, sometimes enlarged at their inferior extremity into 

 a canal of varying size, originating from the superior end of 

 the kidneys, and extending along the external border of 

 these organs : they discharge the urine into the cloaca : 

 their mouths are marked by two prominences, sometimes 

 very distinctly salient, and prolonged into a cylindrical pro- 

 tuberance. These same prominences perform the office of 

 a penis, for it is by them that the sperm is discharged : 

 the vasa deferentia open into the ureters. This being 

 established, we must consider the two bodies which the 

 male introduces into the cloaca of the female during copu- 

 lation, and which afterwards are drawn within the tail, as 

 smiple holders, by means of which these animals join or 

 stimulate each other during that act. 



or THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



The dimensions of the bodies of which we have spoken 

 m many species, the prickles with which they are often 

 bristled throughout all their length, and, above all, the 

 cu'cumstance that they convey no liquid, are sufficient 

 proofs to establish the assertion above stated, and to show 

 the analogy between the arrangement of the true genera- 

 tive organs in Birds and Ophidians. This false penisy 

 which is found also among Saurians, is always a com- 

 pound of two symmetrical bodies, exactly alike, which occupy 

 the space at each side of the tail left by the transverse and 

 inferior spinous processes. Each of these bodies is formed 

 of a prolongation of the skin of the anus, which, descend- 

 ing under the tail, forms a cylinder more or less long, and 

 closed at every point. Exteriorly enveloped by tendinous 

 membrane and by a distinct muscle, the inner surface of 

 this cylinder is furnished with numerous appendages, some 

 of which are soft, others hard ; some close set, little de- 

 veloped, and not conspicuous ; while some are large, scat- 

 tered about as prickles. This cylinder afterwards contracts, 

 the prickles take the form of rugosities, their sides aug- 

 ment in thickness, and their structure assumes an analogy 



