284 THE THEORY OF THE GENE 



cells in all stages of ripening and even spermatozoa 

 (pycnotic) were found. This single case calls for care- 

 ful scrutiny, since it is, so far, the only recorded case of 

 the presence in the testis-like organs of spermatozoa, or 

 even distinctive germ-cells. The left ovary had been re- 

 moved from a bird twenty-six days after hatching. At six 

 months its comb was red, turgid, stood upright, and was 

 as large as that of a cock. An organ ''resembling a testis 

 had developed on the right side." Histologically it was 

 found to contain seminiferous tubules containing all 

 stages of spermatogenesis. The nuclei of the spermatids 

 were pycnotic and the spermatozoa, few in number, ap- 

 peared abnormal. The efferent canal of the male extended 

 from this body to the cloaca. There was also present at 

 the base of the testis a tubular structure resembling the 

 epididymis of the young cock. The presence of sperma- 

 tozoa in the testis-like organ is the only record of this 

 kind. In the other birds operated on by Benoit, in which 

 testis-like bodies developed, no germ-cells were found. 

 May it not be possible that in the above case a mistake 

 had been made and that the bird was in reality a male I 

 It should be added that Benoit found, after removing its 

 testis, the comb shrank and the bird came to resemble a 

 capon. In other cases, no such decrease of the comb has 

 been reported. Still, it is just possible that the presence 

 of testis-like organs that were present with sperm in 

 them may be held responsible for the full development 

 of the comb and wattles. Another bird, ovariotomized at 

 four days after hatching, described by Benoit, showed 

 at four months an unusual organ. An examination re- 

 vealed, on the right side, a testicle-like organ. No report 

 of its contents is made. 



Benoit examined the histological structure of the right 

 rudimentary ovary of a young normal female. He de- 

 scribes it as identical with an epididymis of a young male 



