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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MORPHOLOGY AND 

 DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE UROGENITAL 

 ORGANS IN THE MARSUPIALIA. 



By J as. P. Hill, B.Sc. (Edin.), F.L.S., Demonstrator of Bio- 

 logy in the University op Sydney ; George Heriot 

 Research Fellow, Edinburgh University. 



(Plates xxvii.-xxix.) 



II. On the Female Urogenital Organs of Myrmecobius 



FASCIATUS. 



(PI. xxvii., fig 1 ; PL xxviii., figs. 2-4). 



The following account is based on a macroscopic and microscopic 

 examination of the genital organs of a young (about half-grown) 

 Myrmecobius measuring 11*5 cms. (snout to root of tail). For the 

 opportunity of examining the genital organs of this interesting 

 and somewhat rare form, I have to thank Mr. Geo. Masters, 

 Curator of the Macleay Museum. 



The only reference to the genital organs of Myrmecobius with 

 which I am acquainted is contained in a paper* by W. Leche, 

 which deals, however, mainly with the muscular anatomy, the 

 description of the female genital organs being quite short and 

 unaccompanied by figures. No apology is, therefore, needed for 

 the present communication. 



In PI. xxvii., fig. 1 the genital organs are shown as seen from the 

 dorsal aspect. The ovaries (o.v.) in this young specimen are smooth 

 oval bodies measuring 3 mm. in length by 2 mm. in breadth, and 

 situated ventrally to the anterior extremities of the uteri. The 



J * Leche. W. " Beitrage zur Anatomie cles Myrmecobius fasciatus." 

 Veihancllungen cles Biologischen Vereins in Stockholm, 1891. 



